THE GOSPEL OF LUKE FOR READERS ***
Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.
www.PracticeGodsPresence.com The Gospel of Luke ______________________________________________________________________
1. Forasmuch as many eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have set forth and delivered to us a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of these things from the very beginning, to write to you, most excellent Theophilus, in order that thou might know the certainty of the things thou has been instructed.
In the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. They had no child because Elisabeth was barren. They were both well up in years.
According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot, while he executed his duty before God, was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. The multitude gathered outside to pray during the time of incense.
There appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled and fell down in fear. But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard. Thy wife, Elisabeth, shall bear thee a son and thou shall name him John. You shall have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall not drink wine or strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
He shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He shall go in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? I am an old man, and my wife an old woman. The angel said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. Behold, thou shall be dumb and unable to speak until the day these things are performed because thou believe not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.
The people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
It came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his official duties were accomplished, he went home. His wife, Elisabeth, conceived, and hid herself for five months. She said, Thus has the Lord now done for me that which takes away my reproach among others.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. The angel appeared to a virgin named Mary and espoused to Joseph, of the house of David. He said to her, Hail, thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. When she saw him, she was troubled by his words.
Then the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou has found favor with God. Thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And, of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Then Mary said to the angel, How shall this be since I know not a man? The angel answered, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee so the holiness that is born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth, has conceived a son in her old age. It is the sixth month with her who was once thought barren. With God nothing is impossible. Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done according to thy word. Then the angel departed from her.
