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Gospel
of Luke
King
James Version
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE
CHAPTER
1
1: Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among
us, 2: Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the
beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3: It
seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all
things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most
excellent Theophilus, 4: That thou mightest know the certainty of
those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. 5: There was in
the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named
Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the
daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6: And they were
both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7: And they had no child,
because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well
stricken in years. 8: And it came to pass, that while he executed
the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9:
According to the custom of the priest's office, his 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. 11: And there appeared unto him an angel of the
Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12: And
when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13: But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy
prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John. 14: And thou shalt have joy
and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15: For he
shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither
wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16: And many of the children
of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17: And he shall
go before him 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.
18: And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?
for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19: And
the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in
the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew
thee these glad tidings. 20: And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and
not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be
performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be
fulfilled in their season. 21: And the people waited for
Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22: And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he
beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23: And it came to
pass, that, as soon as the days 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 hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein
he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. 26: And in
the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city
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. 28: And the angel came in unto her, and said,
Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women. 29: And when she saw him, she was
troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of
salutation this should be. 30: And the angel said unto her, Fear
not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31: And, behold,
thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt
call his name JESUS. 32: He shall be great, and shall be called
the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: 33: And he shall reign over the 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? 35: And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy
Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be
born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 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. 37:
For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38: And Mary said,
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy
word. And the angel departed from her. 39: And Mary arose in
those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a
city 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 babe leaped in her womb; and
Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42: And she spake out
with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43: And whence is this to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44: For, lo, as
soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the
babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45: And blessed is she that
believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which
were told her from the Lord. 46: And Mary said, My soul doth
magnify the Lord, 47: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour. 48: For he hath regarded the low estate of his
handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall
call me blessed. 49: For he that is mighty hath done to me great
things; and holy is his name. 50: And his mercy is on them that
fear him from generation to generation. 51: He hath shewed
strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts. 52: He hath put down the mighty from
their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53: He hath filled
the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
54: He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy; 55: As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his
seed for ever. 56: And Mary abode with her about three months,
and returned to her own house. 57: Now Elisabeth's full time came
that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58:
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed
great mercy upon her; and they 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. 60: And his mother answered and said, Not 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. 63: And he
asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John.
And they marvelled all. 64: And his mouth was opened immediately,
and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65: And
fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these
sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of
Judaea. 66: And all they that heard them laid them up in their
hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand
of the Lord was with him. 67: And his father Zacharias was filled
with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 68: Blessed be the
Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69: And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house
of his servant David; 70: As he spake by the mouth of his holy
prophets, which have been since the world began: 71: That we
should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that
hate us; 72: To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to
remember his holy covenant; 73: The oath which he sware to our
father Abraham, 74: That he would grant unto us, that we 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. 76: And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of
the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to
prepare his ways; 77: To give knowledge of salvation unto his
people by the remission of their sins, 78: Through the tender
mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited
us, 79: To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 80: And
the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the
deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
CHAPTER 2
1: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2: (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of
Syria.) 3: And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4: And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5:
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6: And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were
accomplished that she should be delivered. 7: And she brought
forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,
and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in
the inn. 8: And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9: And,
lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10: And
the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11: For unto
you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord. 12: And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall
find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, 14: Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15: And it came to
pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the
shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath
made known unto us. 16: And they came with haste, and found Mary,
and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17: And when they had
seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them
concerning this child. 18: And all they that heard it wondered at
those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19: But Mary
kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20: And
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 21:
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the
child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel
before he was conceived in the womb. 22: And when the days of her
purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished,
they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23: (As
it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the
womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24: And to offer a
sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord,
A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25: And, behold,
there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same
man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel:
and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26: And it was revealed unto him
by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had
seen the Lord's Christ. 27: And he came by the Spirit into the
temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do
for him after the custom of the law, 28: Then took he him up in
his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29: Lord, now lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30: For mine
eyes have seen thy salvation, 31: Which thou hast prepared before
the face of all people; 32: A light to lighten the Gentiles, and
the glory of thy people Israel. 33: And Joseph and his mother
marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34: And
Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this
child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and
for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35: (Yea, a sword shall
pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many
hearts may be revealed. 36: And there was one Anna, a prophetess,
the daughter o