Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.
www.PracticeGodsPresence.com
The Gospel of Luke
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1. Forasmuch as many eyewitnesses and ministers of the word haveset forth and delivered to us a declaration of those things which aremost surely believed among us, it seemed good to me also, having hadperfect understanding of these things from the very beginning, towrite to you, most excellent Theophilus, in order that thou might knowthe certainty of the things thou has been instructed.
In the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, there was a priest named
Zacharias, of the course of Abia. His wife was of the daughters of
Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. They were both righteous before
God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the
Lord. They had no child because Elisabeth was barren. They were both
well up in years.
According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot, while heexecuted his duty before God, was to burn incense when he went intothe temple of the Lord. The multitude gathered outside to pray duringthe time of incense.
There appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right sideof the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled andfell down in fear. But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: forthy prayer is heard. Thy wife, Elisabeth, shall bear thee a son andthou shall name him John. You shall have joy and gladness and manywill rejoice at his birth. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord.He shall not drink wine or strong drink; and he shall be filled withthe Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
He shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.He shall go in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of thefathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of thejust; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? I am an old man,and my wife an old woman. The angel said to him, I am Gabriel, whostands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and toshow thee these glad tidings. Behold, thou shall be dumb and unable tospeak until the day these things are performed because thou believenot my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.
The people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so longin the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. Theyperceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckoned tothem and remained speechless.
It came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his official duties wereaccomplished, he went home. His wife, Elisabeth, conceived, and hidherself for five months. She said, Thus has the Lord now done for methat which takes away my reproach among others.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city ofGalilee, named Nazareth. The angel appeared to a virgin named Mary andespoused to Joseph, of the house of David. He said to her, Hail, thouthat art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongwomen. When she saw him, she was troubled by his words.
Then the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou has found favorwith God. Thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, andshall call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called theSon of the Highest. The Lord God shall give Him the throne of Hisfather David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And, ofHis kingdom there shall be no end.
Then