Luke 1

Prologue to Luke's Gospel

¹Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

²even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

³it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;

⁴that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

The Annunciation to Zechariah

⁵There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

⁶They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

⁷But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

⁸Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division

⁹according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

¹⁰The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

¹¹An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹²Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

¹³But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

¹⁴You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

¹⁷He 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 prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

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

²⁰Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

²²When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.

²³When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵“Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men.”

The Annunciation to Mary

²⁶Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”

²⁹But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

³⁰The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

³¹Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’

³²He 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,

³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”

³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

³⁵The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”

³⁸Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

³⁹Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴²She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

⁴³Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

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

⁴⁵Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!”

⁴⁶Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.

⁴⁷My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

⁴⁸for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.

⁵⁰His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵²He has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly.

⁵³He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.

⁵⁴He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

⁵⁵as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

The Birth and Naming of John the Baptist

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

⁵⁸Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰His mother answered, “Not so; but he will be called John.”

⁶¹They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

⁶²They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

⁶³He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” They all marveled.

⁶⁴His mouth was opened immediately and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.

⁶⁵Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

⁶⁶All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” The hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people;

⁶⁹and 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 who have been from of old),

⁷¹salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

⁷²to show mercy toward our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

⁷³the oath which he swore to Abraham our father,

⁷⁴to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

⁷⁶And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,

⁷⁹to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

PreviousMark 16

NextLuke 2

Luke opens his Gospel with a formal prologue establishing his careful research and eyewitness sources before narrating the miraculous announcements of two births. The angel Gabriel appears first to the priest Zechariah, promising that his barren wife Elizabeth will bear John the Baptist, then to the virgin Mary, announcing she will conceive Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Mary's visit to Elizabeth results in mutual blessing and Mary's magnificent song of praise, while John's birth fulfills God's promise and inspires Zechariah's prophetic hymn about salvation.

Context

This opening chapter establishes the divine origins of both John the Baptist and Jesus before Luke proceeds to narrate Jesus' birth in chapter 2.

Key Themes

Outline

1-4
Luke's PrologueLuke explains his methodology and purpose in writing an orderly account for Theophilus
5-25
Gabriel's Announcement to ZechariahAn angel promises the elderly, childless priest that Elizabeth will bear John the Baptist
26-38
Gabriel's Announcement to MaryThe same angel tells Mary she will conceive Jesus as the Son of God through divine power
39-56
Mary Visits ElizabethElizabeth blesses Mary, whose unborn child leaps in her womb, prompting Mary's song of praise
57-80
Birth and Naming of JohnJohn's birth amazes the community and restores Zechariah's speech, leading to his prophetic blessing

Prologue to Luke's Gospel

1:1–1:4

gospelnarrationcontemplative

Luke addresses Theophilus, explaining his careful investigation and orderly account of the events concerning Jesus. This prologue establishes the historical reliability and purpose of Luke's Gospel.

structural

Luke's prologue uniquely employs classical Greek historiographical conventions—using "καθεξῆς" (orderly sequence) and "ἀκριβῶς" (accurately)—making it the most formally structured historical preface in the New Testament.

The Annunciation to Zechariah

1:5–1:25

gospelnarrationsolemn

The angel Gabriel announces to the priest Zechariah that his barren wife Elizabeth will bear John the Baptist. Zechariah's doubt results in temporary muteness until the prophecy is fulfilled.

person_contrast

Zechariah's transformation from temple priest performing ritual duties to prophetic figure receiving divine revelation mirrors Israel's transition from old covenant worship to messianic fulfillment.

The Annunciation to Mary

1:26–1:38

gospeldialoguehopeful

The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Mary accepts God's will with humble obedience, becoming the mother of the promised Messiah.

person_contrast

Gabriel's declaration "nothing will be impossible with God" (v. 37) directly echoes God's promise to Abraham about Sarah's conception, linking Mary's miraculous pregnancy to the foundational covenant narrative.

Mary's Visit to Elizabeth

1:39–1:56

gospelsongjoyful

Mary visits Elizabeth, who blesses her and the child she carries. Mary responds with the Magnificat, praising God for his mercy and faithfulness to Israel through her calling.

person_contrast

Mary's Magnificat contains more Old Testament allusions per verse than any other New Testament hymn, weaving together Hannah's song, the Psalms, and prophetic literature into a revolutionary manifesto.

The Birth and Naming of John the Baptist

1:57–1:80

narrativenarrationjoyful

The birth and naming of John the Baptist, including Zacharias's prophetic song (Benedictus) praising God for salvation and mercy. The passage establishes John's prophetic calling to prepare the way for the Lord.

person_contrast

Zechariah's Benedictus uniquely positions John not merely as a forerunner but as covenant mediator, using temple language ("horn of salvation," "tender mercy") typically reserved for messianic figures.

Luke 1:2

Luke 20:20lexical

They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as…

Luke 1:5

Matthew 2:1lexical

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusale…

Mark 6:22lexical

When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to…

Mark 6:14lexical

King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and there…

Acts 21:10lexical

As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

Hebrews 7:11lexical

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further nee…

Luke 1:11

Revelation 8:3lexical

Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add i…

Luke 1:12

Matthew 14:26lexical

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.

Luke 1:13

Matthew 1:20lexical

But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of…

Hebrews 11:23lexical

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful c…

Luke 3:2lexical

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.

Hebrews 5:7lexical

He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able t…

Matthew 28:5lexical

The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

Luke 1:15

Revelation 14:10lexical

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormen…

Revelation 16:19lexical

The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the…

Acts 13:9lexical

But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him

Acts 4:31lexical

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,…

Acts 9:17lexical

Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to…

Luke 1:17

Acts 28:27lexical

For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should…

Matthew 13:15lexical

for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perh…

1 Peter 3:4lexical

but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very prec…

Luke 1:19

1 Peter 1:12lexical

To them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you…

Luke 1:20

Luke 21:24lexical

They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down b…

Acts 13:11lexical

Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!” Immediately a mist…

Mark 1:15lexical

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”

Hebrews 9:9lexical

This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscienc…

Revelation 2:10lexical

Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison…

Luke 1:22

Luke 11:14lexical

He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the multitudes marvele…

Luke 24:23lexical

and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was al…

Luke 1:26

Luke 2:39lexical

When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their o…

Luke 2:4lexical

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, b…

Luke 1:27

Matthew 1:18lexical

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, s…

Matthew 1:20lexical

But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of…

Luke 2:4lexical

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, b…

Matthew 1:16lexical

Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Luke 23:50lexical

Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man

Luke 1:30

Matthew 1:20lexical

But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of…

Luke 8:35lexical

People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sittin…

Acts 10:22lexical

They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the J…

Luke 1:31

Matthew 1:23lexical

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, be…

Matthew 1:21lexical

She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:25lexical

and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.

Luke 2:21lexical

When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the ange…

Revelation 12:2lexical

She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth.

Luke 1:32

Matthew 21:9lexical

The multitudes who went in front of him, and those who followed, kept shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is…

Mark 11:10lexical

Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

John 4:12lexical

Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his children and his lives…

Mark 5:7lexical

and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure yo…

Luke 8:28lexical

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Je…

Luke 1:35

Matthew 1:20lexical

But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of…

Acts 1:8lexical

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Jude…

Hebrews 3:7lexical

Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you will hear his voice,

1 Corinthians 12:3lexical

Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is…

Hebrews 1:5lexical

For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will…

Luke 1:38

Luke 2:15lexical

When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and se…

Matthew 1:20lexical

But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of…

Luke 1:39

Acts 21:5lexical

When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way…

Luke 1:41

Acts 13:9lexical

But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him

Acts 4:31lexical

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,…

Acts 9:17lexical

Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to…

Acts 2:4lexical

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability t…

Acts 4:8lexical

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

Luke 1:48

Acts 8:33lexical

In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”

Luke 1:53

Luke 6:25lexical

Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Luke 20:10lexical

At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmer…

Luke 20:11lexical

He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

Luke 1:55

Romans 4:16lexical

For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the off…

Acts 3:25lexical

You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘All the f…

John 6:58lexical

This is the bread which came down out of heaven—not as our fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will l…

Luke 1:56

Acts 20:3lexical

When he had spent three months there, and a plot was made against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he…

Acts 7:20lexical

At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome to God. He was nourished three months in his father’s house.

Luke 1:59

Luke 2:21lexical

When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the ange…

Acts 7:8lexical

He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isa…

Luke 1:65

Acts 9:31lexical

So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking…

Acts 10:37lexical

you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism…

Luke 1:67

Acts 2:4lexical

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability t…

Acts 4:8lexical

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people and elders of Israel,

Acts 13:9lexical

But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him

Acts 4:31lexical

When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,…

Acts 9:17lexical

Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to…

Luke 1:70

Acts 3:21lexical

whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy…

Acts 28:25lexical

When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had spoken one message: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly…

Luke 1:73

Hebrews 6:16lexical

For men indeed swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.

James 5:12lexical

But above all things, my brothers, don’t swear—not by heaven, or by the earth, or by any other oath; but let your “yes”…

Acts 2:30lexical

Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according…

Luke 1:75

Ephesians 4:24lexical

and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Luke 1:76

Matthew 3:3lexical

For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way…

Luke 3:4lexical

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready…

Luke 1:77

Acts 5:31lexical

God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

Luke 1:79

Matthew 4:16lexical

the people who sat in darkness saw a great light; to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has…

Luke 1:80

Luke 2:40lexical

The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke 4:42lexical

When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and…

Interlinear

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Historical Context

Places and events in this chapter

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