1 Or, dy And his mercy is unto generations and generations 50 He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. 51 32 He hath put down princes from their thrones, 52 The hungry he hath filled with good things; 53 He hath holpen Israel his servant, (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. 54 And Mary abode with her about three months, and 56 returned unto her house. Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should 57 be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her 58 neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, 59 that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not 60 so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto 61 her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, what 62 he would have him called. And he asked for a 63 writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened 64 immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God. And fear came on all that dwelt round 65 about them and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. And all 66 that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. : And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy 67 Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people, 68 2 And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets To shew mercy towards our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father, To grant unto us that we being delivered out of Should serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him all our Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to To give knowledge of salvation unto his people Because of the 1tender mercy of our God, 2 Whereby the dayspring from on high visit us, 1 Or, heart of 3 shall mercy 2 Or, Wherein To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the 3 Many shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace. ancient authorities read hath visited us. inhabited Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world Gr. the 2 should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment earth. 3 made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and 5 family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was 6 betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were watches fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she 7 brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same country 8 1 Or, night- abiding in the field, and keeping 1watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by 9 them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the angel said 10 unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people for there is born to you this day in the city 11 2 Or, Anoint of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And 12 this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of 13 the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ed Lord 3 Many ancient authorities read peace, good pleasure among men. 4 Gr. men of good pleasure. 5 Or, saying 2 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth 3 peace among men in whom he is well pleased. 5 14 And it came to pass, when the angels went away 15 from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with 16 haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, 17 they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard 18 it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these 19 6 Or, things sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the 20 shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for 6 all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising 21 him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of their purification according 22 to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is 23 written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two 25 young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation 26 of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's 27 Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the 28 law, then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 1 Now lettest thou thy servant depart, O 2 Lord, For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all A light for revelation to the Gentiles, 1 Gr. bondservant. 2 Gr. Master. 3 Or, the unveiling of the Gentiles 33 And his father and his mother were marvelling at 34 the things which were spoken concerning him; and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken 35 against; yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be 36 revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was * of 4 Gr. ad. a great age, having lived with a husband seven years many days, 37 from her virginity, and she had been a widow even for fourscore and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplica38 tions night and day. And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of 39 Jerusalem. And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. vanced in 1 Gr. becoming full of wisdom. And the child grew, and waxed strong, 'filled with 40 wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the 41 feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years 42 old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and 43 when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in 44 the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: and when they found him not, they returned 45 to Jerusalem, seeking for him. And it came to pass, 46 after three days they found him in the temple, sitting 2 Or, teachers in the midst of the 2 doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions: and all that heard him were 47 amazed at his understanding and his answers. And 48 when they saw him, they were astonished: and his 3 Gr. Child. mother said unto him, 3 Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? 49 wist ye not that I must be in my Father's house? And they understood not the saying which he spake 50 unto them. And he went down with them, and came 51 to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his 5 Or, things mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 4 Or, about things of my 6 Or, age 7 Or, grace 5 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in 52 7 favour with God and men. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius 3 Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high-priesthood of 2 Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he 3 came into all the region round about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins; as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the 4 prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make his paths straight. |