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The Blue Letter Bible

Luke 1 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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Dedication to Theophilus

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:1

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:1 - Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:2

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:2 - just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:3

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:3 - it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:4

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:4 - that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:5

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:5 - In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,[fn] of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:6

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:6 - And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:7

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:7 - But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:8

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:8 - Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:9

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:9 - according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:10

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:10 - And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:11

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:11 - And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:12

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:12 - And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:13

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:13 - But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:14

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:14 - And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:15

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:15 - for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:16

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:16 - And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:17

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:17 - and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:18

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:18 - And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:19

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:19 - And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:20

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:20 - And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:21

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:21 - And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:22

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:22 - And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:23

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:23 - And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:24

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:24 - After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:25

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:25 - “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Birth of Jesus Foretold

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:26

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:26 - In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:27

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:27 - to a virgin betrothed[fn] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:28

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:28 - And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:29

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:29 - But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:30

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:30 - And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:31

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:31 - And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:32

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:32 - He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:33

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:33 - and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:34

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:34 - And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”[fn]

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:35

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:35 - And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[fn] will be called holy—the Son of God.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:36

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:36 - And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:37

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:37 - For nothing will be impossible with God.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:38

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:38 - And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant[fn] of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:39

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:39 - In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:40

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:40 - and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:41

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:41 - And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:42

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:42 - and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:43

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:43 - And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:44

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:44 - For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:45

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:45 - And blessed is she who believed that there would be[fn] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:46

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:46 - And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:47

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:47 - and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:48

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:48 - for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:49

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:49 - for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:50

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:50 - And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:51

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:51 - He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:52

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:52 - he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:53

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:53 - he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:54

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:54 - He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:55

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:55 - as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:56

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:56 - And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:57

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:57 - Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:58

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:58 - And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:59

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:59 - And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:60

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:60 - but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:61

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:61 - And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:62

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:62 - And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:63

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:63 - And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:64

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:64 - And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:65

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:65 - And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:66

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:66 - and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:67

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:67 - And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:68

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:68 - “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:69

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:69 - and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:70

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:70 - as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:71

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:71 - that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:72

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:72 - to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:73

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:73 - the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:74

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:74 - that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:75

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:75 - in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:76

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:76 - And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:77

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:77 - to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:78

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:78 - because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us[fn] from on high

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:79

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:79 - to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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Unchecked Copy Box Luk 1:80

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 1:80 - And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
ESV Footnotes
Greek Zacharias
That is, legally pledged to be married
Some manuscripts add Blessed are you among women!
Greek since I do not know a man
Some manuscripts add of you
Greek bondservant; also verse 48
Or believed, for there will be
Or when the sunrise shall dawn upon us; some manuscripts since the sunrise has visited us
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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Luke Chapter 1 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation New International Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Morphological Greek New Testament Textus Receptus Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras