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          DASV: Luke 1    

1 Since many have attempted to compile a narrative concerning
those events that have been fulfilled among us,
2 just as they were delivered to us, by those who were from
the beginning eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
3 it seemed good to me also, having traced all things accurately
from the first, to write an orderly account to you, most
excellent Theophilus,
4 that you might know for certain the things about which you
have been instructed.

5 There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest
named Zacharias, of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife,
whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 They were both righteous before God, walking in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
7 They had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they
both were now well along in years.

8 Now while Zechariah was serving in his priestly duties before
God his priestly order was on duty.
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 There was a whole crowd of the people praying outside at the
hour when the incense was being burned.
11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing at
the right side of altar of incense.
12 When Zacharias saw him, he was astonished, and fear overcame him.
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias,
because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth
will bear you a son, and you will call his name John.
14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must not
drink wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even while he is in his mother's womb.
16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to
turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children, and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord."
18 Then Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this? For I
am an old man, and my wife is well along in years."
19 The angel replied, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of
God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20 But now you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day
that these things happen, because you did not believe my words,
which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."

21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they were puzzled
about why he stayed so long in the temple.
22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that
he had seen a vision in the temple because he kept making gestures
to them and remained speechless.
23 When the days of his service were finished, he went home.
24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant but hid it
for five months, saying,
25 "This is what the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked
favorably on me to take away my disgrace before people."

26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a
town in Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, from the
house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly
favored, the Lord is with you."
29 But she was greatly troubled by his words, and pondered what this
greeting might mean.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found
favor with God.
31 Look, you will conceive in your womb, give birth to a son, and
will call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The
Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom
there will be no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I have never had
sexual relations with a man?"
35 The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child born
will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.
36 Now look, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her
old age; and this is the sixth month of the pregnancy of she who
was once called barren.
37 For nothing is impossible for God."
38 Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord; be it done to me
according to your word." Then the angel left her.

39 After these days Mary got up and quickly went into the hill country,
to a town in Judah,
40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb;
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 She exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the
fruit of your womb.
43 Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
44 For at the moment the voice of your greeting came to my ears,
the baby leaped in my womb for joy.
45 Blessed is she who believed that the things that had been
spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled."

46 Then Mary replied,
     "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47       and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
48 For he has looked favorably
      on the low estate of his servant.
  From now on all generations will call me blessed.
49 For the Almighty has done great things for me,
      and holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends from generation to generation
      to those who fear him.
51 He has showed strength with his arm;
      he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has thrown down princes from their thrones,
      and has lifted up those of humble position.
53 The hungry he has filled with good things;
      and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped Israel his servant,
      remembering his mercy,
55 just as he promised our forefathers
      to Abraham and his descendants forever."

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months,
then went back home.

57 Now when Elizabeth's time to give birth had come,
she gave birth to a son.
58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord
had shown his mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 On the eighth day, when they were going to circumcise
the child, they wanted to call him Zacharias, after the
name of his father.
60 But his mother objected, "No; he will be called John."
61 They said to her, "But none of your relatives are
called by this name."
62 Then they signaled to his father, inquiring about what
he wanted him to be called.
63 He requested a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is
John." They were all amazed.
64 His mouth immediately was opened, and his tongue loosed,
and he spoke, praising God.
65 Fear came on all their neighbors and all this news spread
throughout the hill country of Judea.
66 All who heard about it took note of it in their hearts,
asking, "What then will this child become?" For the hand
of the Lord was with him.

67 His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit,
and prophesied,
68 "Praise be the Lord, the God of Israel;
     for he has come to the aid and redeemed his people,
69 he has raised up a horn of salvation for us
      in the house of his servant David
70 (As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago),
71 salvation from our enemies,
      and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show mercy towards our forefathers,
      by remembering his holy covenant;
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
74 that we being delivered from the hand of our enemies
      should serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 Yes and you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
      for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his paths;
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
      through the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
      by which the dawn will break upon us from on high,
79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
      to guide our feet into the path of peace."

80 The child grew, became strong in spirit, and was
in the desert until the day of his public revelation to Israel.

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