Luke.1.1

Forsooth for many men endeavoured to ordain the telling of things, which be filled in us. So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us,

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Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

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Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

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Most honorable Theophilus: Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us.

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using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives.

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just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

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just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,

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They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fulfillment of his promises.

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Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus,

Luke.1.3

Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

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it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke.1.3

Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summary for you,

Luke.1.4

so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

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so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

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that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

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to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught.

Luke.1.5

During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

Luke.1.5

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

Luke.1.5

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

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It all begins with a Jewish priest, Zechariah, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a member of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron.

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Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God.

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Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.

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And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

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Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations.

Luke.1.7

But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

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But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

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

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They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old.

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It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment,

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Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

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So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

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One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.

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it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense.

Luke.1.9

he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luke.1.9

according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

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As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord's presence.

Luke.1.10

The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering.

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And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

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And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

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While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

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Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense.

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

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Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

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Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar.

Luke.1.12

Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

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When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

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

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Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear.

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But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John.

Luke.1.13

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

Luke.1.13

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Luke.1.13

But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John.

Luke.1.14

You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you--many will delight in his birth.

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He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,

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And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

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You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth,

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He'll achieve great stature with God. "He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb.

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for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

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For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

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for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

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He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God.

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Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.

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

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And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God.

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He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics--he'll get the people ready for God."

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And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

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He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord."

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He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom."

Luke.1.18

Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."

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Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."

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And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

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Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years."

Luke.1.19

But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news.

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The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

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And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

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Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!

Luke.1.20

But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time--God's time."

Luke.1.20

And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."

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But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."

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And now, since you didn't believe what I said, you won't be able to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time."

Luke.1.21

Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary.

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Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.

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And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.

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Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out, wondering why he was taking so long.

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When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

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When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

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But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

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When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple sanctuary.

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When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home.[

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When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

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So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

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He stayed at the Temple until his term of service was over, and then he returned home.

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It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy.

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After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

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Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,

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Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months.

Luke.1.25

"So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.

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"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

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"Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

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"How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children!"