The Preface to Luke’s Gospel

¹ Since many have attempted to compile an account concerning the events that have been fulfilled among us,

² just as those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning passed on to us,

³ it seemed best to me also—because I¹ have followed all things carefully from the beginning—to write them² down in orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus,

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have followed”) which is understood as causal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁴ so that you may know the certainty concerning the things about which you were taught.

The Prediction of John the Baptist’s Birth

⁵ It happened that in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, Zechariah by name, of the division of Abijah. And ⌞he had a wife⌟¹ from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

1. Literally “a wife to him”

⁶ And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

⁷ And ⌞they did not have⌟¹ a child, because Elizabeth was barren. And they were both advanced ⌞in years⌟.²

1. Literally “there was not to them”
2. Literally “in their days”

⁸ And it happened that while¹ he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

1. *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal infinitive (“was serving as priest”)

⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

¹⁰ And the whole crowd of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And Zechariah was terrified when he¹ saw the angel,² and fear fell upon him.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John.

¹⁴ And ⌞you will experience joy and exultation⌟,¹ and many will rejoice at his birth.

1. Literally “joy and exultation will be to you”

¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is¹ still in his mother’s womb.

1. *Here the phrase “while he is,” including the verb, is understood in Greek and is supplied in the translation

¹⁶ And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he will go on 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 righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready.”

¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, “By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced ⌞in years⌟!”¹

1. Literally “in her days”

¹⁹ And the angel answered and¹ said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

²⁰ And behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day these things take place, ⌞because⌟¹ you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

1. Literally “in return for which”

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and began to wonder¹ when² he was delayed in the temple.

1. *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to wonder”)
2. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal infinitive (“was delayed”)

²² And when he¹ came out he was not able 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 unable to speak.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came out”) which is understood as temporal

²³ And it happened that when the days of his service came to an end, he went away to his home.

²⁴ Now after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he has concerned himself with me,¹ to take away my disgrace among people.”

1. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

The Prediction of Jesus’ Birth

²⁶ Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee ⌞named⌟¹ Nazareth,

1. Literally “to which the name”

²⁷ to a virgin legally promised in marriage to a man ⌞named⌟¹ Joseph of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary.

1. Literally “to whom the name”

²⁸ And he came to her and¹ said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came”) has been translated as a finite verb

²⁹ But she was greatly perplexed at the statement, and was pondering what sort of greeting this might be.

³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹ And behold, you will conceive in the womb and will give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus.

³² This one will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

³³ And he will reign over the house of Jacob ⌞forever⌟,¹ and of his kingdom there will be no end.

1. Literally “for the ages”

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

³⁵ And the angel answered and¹ said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the one to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth—she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.

³⁷ For ⌞nothing will be impossible with God⌟.”¹

1. Literally “every thing will not be impossible with God”

³⁸ So Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s female slave! May it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ Now in those days Mary set out and¹ traveled with haste into the hill country, to a town of Judah,

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“set out”) has been translated as a finite verb

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zechariah, and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it happened that when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² And she cried out with a loud shout and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³ And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!

⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment to what was spoken to her from the Lord!”

Mary’s Hymn of Praise to God

⁴⁶ And Mary said, “My soul exalts the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit has rejoiced greatly in God my Savior,

⁴⁸ because he has looked upon the humble state of his female slave, for behold, from now on all generations will consider me blessed,

⁴⁹ because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

⁵⁰ And his mercy is for generation after generation to those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has dispersed the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³ He has filled those who are hungry with good things, and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.

⁵⁴ He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,

⁵⁵ just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants ⌞forever⌟.”¹

1. Literally “for the age”

⁵⁶ And Mary stayed with her about three months, and returned to her home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷ Now the time came for Elizabeth that she should give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbors and relatives heard that ⌞the Lord had shown his great mercy to her⌟,¹ and they rejoiced with her.

1. Literally “the Lord had made great his mercy with her”

⁵⁹ And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him ⌞after⌟¹ his father Zechariah.

1. Literally “in the name of”

⁶⁰ And his mother answered and¹ said, “No, but he will be named John.”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb

⁶¹ And they said to her, “There is no one of your relatives who is called by this name.”

⁶² So they made signs to his father asking what he wanted him to be named,

⁶³ and he asked for a writing tablet and¹ wrote, saying, “John is his name.” And they were all astonished.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“asked for”) has been translated as a finite verb

⁶⁴ And his mouth and his tongue were opened immediately, and he began to speak,¹ praising God.