Thematic Bible




Luke 1:1 (show verse)

Whereas several have undertaken to draw up a narrative of those transactions, which pass'd among us;

Luke 1:2 (show verse)

according as they were delivered to us by persons, who were all along eye-witnesses, and had a share in the transactions themselves:

Luke 1:3 (show verse)

I have likewise thought proper; most excellent Theophilus, to write to you a particular account; having made a very diligent inquiry into the whole matter,

Luke 1:4 (show verse)

that you may have a distinct view of those things about which you have been inform'd.

Luke 1:5 (show verse)

In the time of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zacharias, of the family of Abia, whose wife; nam'd Elizabeth, was of the race of Aaron:

Luke 1:6 (show verse)

they were both of them sincerely pious; observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord; with unspotted reputation.

Luke 1:7 (show verse)

they had no children, because Elizabeth was steril, and they were both advanced in years.

Luke 1:8 (show verse)

now Zachary was to officiate in divine service, in the order of his family,

Luke 1:9 (show verse)

and according to the custom of distributing the parts, it fell to his lot to burn incense in the sanctuary.

Luke 1:10 (show verse)

and all the congregation of the people stood praying without, at the time of offering incense,

Luke 1:11 (show verse)

when there appear'd to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the incense-altar.

Luke 1:12 (show verse)

Zacharias startled at the sight and was seized with fear.

Luke 1:13 (show verse)

but the angel said to Zacharias, don't be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard: and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall name John:

Luke 1:14 (show verse)

he shall be your joy and transport, and numbers shall rejoice at his birth.

Luke 1:15 (show verse)

he shall appear as a divine messenger. he shall drink neither wine, nor any other strong liquor: he shall be filled with the holy spirit, even from his infancy:

Luke 1:16 (show verse)

he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

Luke 1:17 (show verse)

and he shall march before him, in the spirit and power of Elias, to reconcile parents and children together, and the unruly to the practice of justice, that the people may be duly dispos'd to receive the Lord.

Luke 1:18 (show verse)

But Zacharias said to the angel, by what sign shall I know this? for I am old, and my wife is of a great age.

Luke 1:19 (show verse)

the angel replied, I am Gabriel, who attend in the presence of God, and am sent to communicate to you this agreeable message.

Luke 1:20 (show verse)

you shall now become dumb and not recover your speech, till the very day when these things shall happen; because you distrusted my words, which in due time shall have their effect.

Luke 1:21 (show verse)

In the mean time the people were waiting for Zacharias, and wonder'd at his tarrying so long in the temple.

Luke 1:22 (show verse)

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 intimated it to them by signs, and continued dumb.

Luke 1:23 (show verse)

and the time of his officiating being ended, he departed to his own house.

Luke 1:24 (show verse)

Some time after, Elizabeth his wife was pregnant, and went into retirement for five months.

Luke 1:25 (show verse)

it is the Lord, said she, who has thus favour'd me, at the time when he took care to remove the reproach I was under among men.

Luke 1:26 (show verse)

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

Luke 1:27 (show verse)

to a virgin contracted to a man; whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. and the virgin's name was Mary.

Luke 1:28 (show verse)

the angel, upon his arrival, said to her; "Hail, favorite of heaven, the Lord is with thee: thou happiest of thy sex."

Luke 1:29 (show verse)

Mary was surpriz'd at the voice of such an appearance, and wonder'd what the meaning of this salutation should be.

Luke 1:30 (show verse)

but the angel said to her, "Mary, be not afraid: for you are the object of divine favour.

Luke 1:31 (show verse)

you shall be now pregnant, and be delivered of a son, whom you shall name JESUS.

Luke 1:32 (show verse)

he shall be great, he shall be the son of the most high. the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David.

Luke 1:33 (show verse)

he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

Luke 1:34 (show verse)

Then said Mary to the angel, what shall this be without any intercourse with man?

Luke 1:35 (show verse)

the angel answered her, "the holy spirit shall descend upon thee, and the power of the most high shall over-shadow thee: wherefore thy holy offspring shall be called the son of God.

Luke 1:36 (show verse)

even your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is become pregnant with a son: she, who was stiled barren, is now in her sixth month;

Luke 1:37 (show verse)

for nothing is impossible to God."

Luke 1:38 (show verse)

then said Mary, "behold the servant of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word." upon which the angel disappeared.

Luke 1:39 (show verse)

Soon after this, Mary departed, and made an expeditious journey to a city of Juda, in the mountains:

Luke 1:40 (show verse)

where entring into the house of Zacharias, she saluted Elizabeth.

Luke 1:41 (show verse)

no sooner had Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, but the babe leap'd within her:

Luke 1:42 (show verse)

and Elizabeth divinely inspired, broke out into this acclamation.

Luke 1:43 (show verse)

"Blessed mother of the most blessed offspring! what an honour is this, that I should be visited by the mother of our Lord!

Luke 1:44 (show verse)

no sooner did the sound of your salutation strike mine ear, than the babe leap'd within me for joy.

Luke 1:45 (show verse)

blessed is she that has believed; for what she has heard from the Lord, shall be accomplished."

Luke 1:46 (show verse)

Then Mary said, "my soul doth magnify the Lord,

Luke 1:47 (show verse)

and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour,

Luke 1:48 (show verse)

for he hath regarded the low estate of his servant: and future ages shall proclaim me blessed.

Luke 1:49 (show verse)

the almighty hath distinguish'd me by the greatest marks of favour: his name be for ever reverenc'd.

Luke 1:50 (show verse)

his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation.

Luke 1:51 (show verse)

he hath displayed the strength of his arm, and has confounded the proud by the devices of their hearts.

Luke 1:52 (show verse)

he has cast down princes from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree,

Luke 1:53 (show verse)

the needy he has furnished with plentiful enjoyments, and the rich he has reduced to poverty.

Luke 1:54 (show verse)

he has taken Israel his servant into his protection, in pursuance of the mercy,

Luke 1:55 (show verse)

which he promised to our forefathers, to Abraham, and to his posterity for ever."

Luke 1:56 (show verse)

Now Mary stay'd about three months with Elizabeth, and then return'd to her own house.

Luke 1:57 (show verse)

When Elizabeth had gone her full time, she was delivered of a son.

Luke 1:58 (show verse)

her neighbours and her relations having heard how the Lord had heap'd his favours upon her, they congratulated with her:

Luke 1:59 (show verse)

and on the eighth day were present at the circumcision of the child. but upon their proposing to call him by his father's name, Zacharias: his mother objected to it,

Luke 1:60 (show verse)

and said, no, he shall be called John.

Luke 1:61 (show verse)

they answered her, there is not any of your family of that name.

Luke 1:62 (show verse)

they therefore ask'd his father to signify how he would have him call'd.

Luke 1:63 (show verse)

then he made signs for a writing-book, and writ these words, "his name is John:" at which they were all surprized.

Luke 1:64 (show verse)

immediately he had the use of his speech: and he uttered himself in praises to God.

Luke 1:65 (show verse)

All the neighbourhood were struck with reverence, and the rumour of these events ran thro' all the mountains of Judea,

Luke 1:66 (show verse)

and made an impression upon all that heard of them. what a child will this be? said they, for the divine influence does attend him.

Luke 1:67 (show verse)

Then Zacharias his father, inspired by the holy spirit, vented his divine enthusiasm in these words.

Luke 1:68 (show verse)

"blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he hath regarded and wrought a deliverance for his people:

Luke 1:69 (show verse)

he hath rais'd up a powerful saviour for us, in the family of his servant David,

Luke 1:70 (show verse)

according to the antient promise he made by the mouth of the holy prophets,

Luke 1:71 (show verse)

to deliver us from our enemies, and from the power of all that hate us:

Luke 1:72 (show verse)

to show regard to our forefathers, in performing his holy covenant,

Luke 1:73 (show verse)

the oath which he made to our father Abraham, to grant us this favour,

Luke 1:74 (show verse)

that we should be delivered from the power of our enemies, and serve him with security,

Luke 1:75 (show verse)

in the sincere practice of holiness and justice, all our days.

Luke 1:76 (show verse)

and you, dear babe, you shall be the prophet of the most high: for you shall go before the Lord, in order to prepare his way,

Luke 1:77 (show verse)

by acquainting his people how they may be saved by the remission of their sins,

Luke 1:78 (show verse)

through the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun has visited us from on high,

Luke 1:79 (show verse)

to enlighten those, who are in darkness, and in the shadow of death, and to direct our steps into the ways of peace."

Luke 1:80 (show verse)

Now the child continued to grow, and greatly improv'd in sense; and was in the desarts till the time, when he was to be manifested to Israel.