(KJV) Luke 1¹²

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⥃Dedication to Theophilus ^{[ Acts 1:1–3 ]}

[1] Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those³ things which are most surely⁴ believed among us, [2] Even as they delivered them unto us, which⁵ from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and⁶ ministers of the word; [3] It seemed⁷ good to me also, havin⁸g had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most⁹ excellent Theophilus, [4] That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.¹⁰

⥃Gabriel Foretells John’s Birth

[5] There was in the days of Herod¹¹, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course¹² of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth. [6] And they were both righteous¹³ before God, walking¹⁴ in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless¹⁵. [7] And they had¹⁶ no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well¹⁷ stricken in years. [8] And it came to pass, that while he¹⁸ executed the priest’s office before God in¹⁹ the order of his course, [9] According to the custom of the priest’s office, his²⁰ lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.²¹ [11] And there appeared²² unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar²³ of incense. [12] And whe²⁴n Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said unto him, Fear²⁵ not, Zacharias: for thy prayer²⁶ is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou²⁷ shalt call his name John. [14] And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.²⁸ [15] For he shall be great²⁹ in the sight of the Lord, and shall³⁰ drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled³¹ with the Holy Ghost, even³² from his mother’s womb. [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.³³ [17] And he shall go before³⁴ him in³⁵ the spirit and power³⁶ of Elias, to turn³⁷ the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the³⁸ disobedient to³⁹ the wisdom of the just; to make⁴⁰ ready a people prepared for the Lord. [18] And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby⁴¹ shall I know this? for⁴² I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. [19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am⁴³ Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to⁴⁴ shew thee these glad tidings. [20] And, behold, thou shalt⁴⁵ be dumb⁴⁶, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because⁴⁷ thou believest not my words, which⁴⁸ shall be fulfilled in their season. [21] And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.⁴⁹ [22] And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for⁵⁰ he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. [23] And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days⁵¹ of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. [24] And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, [25] Thus hath⁵² the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take⁵³ away my reproach among men.

⥃Gabriel Foretells Jesus’ Birth

[26] And in the sixth⁵⁴ month the angel⁵⁵ Gabriel was sent from God unto a city⁵⁶ of Galilee, named Nazareth, [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name [was] Mary.⁵⁷ [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail⁵⁸, [thou that art] highly favoured⁵⁹, the Lord⁶⁰ [is] with thee: blessed⁶¹ [art] thou among women. [29] And when she saw [him], she was⁶² troubled at his saying, and cast⁶³ in her mind what⁶⁴ manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.⁶⁵ [31] And, behold, thou⁶⁶ shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt⁶⁷ call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great⁶⁸, and shall be called the Son⁶⁹ of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give⁷⁰ unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he⁷¹ shall reign over the⁷² house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. [34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?⁷³ [35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost⁷⁴ shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that⁷⁵ holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God⁷⁶. [36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.⁷⁷ [37] For with⁷⁸ God nothing shall be impossible. [38] And Mary said, Be⁷⁹hold⁸⁰ the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

⥃Mary Visits Elizabeth

[39] And Mary arose in those days, and went into⁸¹ the hill country with haste, into a city⁸² of Juda; [40] And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. [41] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe⁸³ leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was⁸⁴ filled with the Holy Ghost: [42] And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art⁸⁵] thou among women, and blessed [is⁸⁶] the fruit of thy womb. [43] And whence⁸⁷ [is] this to me, that the mother of my⁸⁸ Lord should come to me? [44] For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe⁸⁹ leaped in my womb for joy. [45] And blessed⁹⁰ [is] she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

⥃Mary’s Song ^{[ 1 Samuel 2:1–11 ]}

[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,⁹¹ [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God⁹² my Saviour. [48] For he hath regarded⁹³ the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all⁹⁴ generations shall call me blessed. [49] For he⁹⁵ that is mighty hath⁹⁶ done to me great things; and⁹⁷ holy [is] his name. [50] And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.⁹⁸ [51] He hath shewed⁹⁹ strength with his arm; he hath scattered¹⁰⁰ the proud in the imagination¹⁰¹ of their hearts. [52] He hath put¹⁰² down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree. [53] He hath filled¹⁰³ the hungry with good things; and¹⁰⁴ the rich he hath sent empty away. [54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy;¹⁰⁵ [55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.¹⁰⁶ [56] And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⥃The Birth of John the Baptist

[57] Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.¹⁰⁷ [58] And her neighbours¹⁰⁸ and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they¹⁰⁹ rejoiced with her. [59] And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.¹¹⁰ [60] And his mother answered and said, Not¹¹¹ [so]; but he shall be called John. [61] And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. [62] And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.¹¹² [63] A¹¹³nd he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His¹¹⁴ name is John. And they marvelled all. [64] And his mouth¹¹⁵ was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he¹¹⁶ spake, and praised God. [65] And fear¹¹⁷ came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings¹¹⁸ were noised abroad throughout all the¹¹⁹ hill country of Judea. [66] And all they that heard [them] laid¹²⁰ [them] up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the¹²¹ hand of the Lord was with him.

⥃Zechariah’s Song

[67] And his father Zacharias was filled¹²² with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, [68] Blessed¹²³ [be] the¹²⁴ Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, [69] An¹²⁵d hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in¹²⁶ the house of his servant David; [70] As he spake¹²⁷ by the mouth of his holy prophets, which¹²⁸ have been since the world began: [71] That we¹²⁹ should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; [72] To perform¹³⁰ the mercy [promised] to our fathers, and¹³¹ to remember his holy covenant; [73] The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,¹³² [74] That he would grant unto us, that we¹³³ being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, [75] In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.¹³⁴ [76] And thou, child, shalt be¹³⁵ called the prophet of the Highest¹³⁶: for thou shalt¹³⁷ go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; [77] To give¹³⁸ knowledge of salvation unto his people by¹³⁹ the¹⁴⁰ remission of their sins, [78] Through the tender¹⁴¹ mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring¹⁴² from on high hath visited us, [79] To give¹⁴³ light to them that sit in darkness and¹⁴⁴ [in] the shadow of death, to guide¹⁴⁵ our feet into the way of peace. [80] And the child¹⁴⁶ grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was¹⁴⁷ in the deserts till the day of his¹⁴⁸ shewing unto Israel.

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