The 1st Chapter
     *There was in the days of Herode the King of Jurie (Jewry) a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron: And her name was Elizabeth. Both were perfect before God, and walked in all the laws and ordinances of the Lord, that no man could find fault with them. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren and both were well stricken in age. *note: these words were also in bold type face at the beginning of this book of Luke.
     And it came to pass, as he executed the Priests office before God, as his course came (according to the custom of the Priests office) his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord, and the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer while the incense was a burning. And there appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was abashed, and fear came on him.
     And the Angel said unto him: fear not Zachary, for your prayer is heard: And your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John, and you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the holy ghost, even in his mothers womb: and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to their Lord God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Helias (Elias) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the unbelievers to the wisdom of the just men: to make the people ready for the Lord.
     And Zacharias said unto the angel: whereby shall I know this? seeing that I am old and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answered and said unto him. I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto you: and to show you these glad tidings. And behold you shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the time that these things be performed, because you believed not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.
     And the people waited for Zacharias and marvelled that he tarried in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them. Whereby they perceived that he had seen some vision in the temple. And he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
     And it fortuned, as soon as the time of his office was out, he departed home into his own house. And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months saying: This wise has God dealt with me in the days when he looked on me, to take from me the rebuke that I suffered among men. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galile, named Nazareth, to a virgin spoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgins name was Mary. And the angel went in unto her, and said: Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you: blessed are you among women.
     When she saw him, she was abashed at his saying: and cast in her mind what manner of salutation that should be. And the angel said unto her: fear not Mary: for you have found grace with God. Lo, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the seat of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom shall be none end.
     Then said Mary unto the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her: The holy ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the highest shall overshadow you. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born, shall be called the son of God. And behold your cousin Elizabeth she has also conceived a son in her age. And this is her sixth month, though she be called barren: for with God can nothing be unpossible. And Mary said: behold the hand maiden of the Lord, be it unto me even as you have said. And the angel departed from her.
     And Mary arose in those days, and went into the mountains with haste, into a city of Jurie (Jewry) and entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth. And it fortuned, as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the holy ghost, and cried with a loud voice, and said: Blessed are you among the women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And from where happens this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe sprang in my belly for joy. And blessed are you that believed: for those things shall be performed which were told you from the Lord. And Mary said:
     My soul magnifies the Lord. And my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. For he has looked on the poor degree of his handmaiden. Behold now from this time forth shall all generations call me blessed. For he that is mighty has done to me great things, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He shows strength with his arm, he scatters them that are proud in the imagination of their hearts. He puts down the mighty from their seats, and exalts them of low degree. He fills the hungry with good things: and sends away the rich empty. He remembers mercy: and helps his servant Israel.
     Even as he promised to our fathers, Abraham and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about a three months, and returned again to her own house.
     Elizabeths time was come that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.
     And it fortuned the eighth day: they came to circumcise the child: and called his name Zacharias, after the name of his father. How be it his mother answered and said: not so, but he shall be called John. And they said unto her: There is none of your kin, that is named with this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for writing tables and wrote saying: his name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spoke lauding God. And fear came on all them that dwelt near unto them. And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Jurie (Jewry) and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts saying: What manner child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.
     And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy ghost, and prophesied saying.
     Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.
     And has raised up an horn of salvation unto us in the house of his servant David.
     Even as he promised by the mouth of his holy Prophets which were since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us.
     To fulfil the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.
     And to perform the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, for to give us.
     That we delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him. And you child shall be called the Prophet of the highest: for you shall go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways: And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people for the remission of sins. Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from on high has visited us.
     To give light to them that sat in darkness and in shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in wilderness, till the day came when he should show himself unto the Israelites.

The 2nd Chapter
     And it chanced in those days: that there went out a commandment from August the Emperor, that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was the first, and executed when Syrenius was leftenant in Syria. And every man went unto his own city to be taxed. And Joseph also ascended from Galilee, out of a city called Nazareth, into Jurie (Jewry): unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary his spoused wife which was with child.
     And it fortuned while they were there, her time was come that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first begotten son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them within in the inn.
     And there were in the same region shepherds abiding in the field and watching their flock by night. And lo: the angel of the Lord stood hard by them, and the brightness of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. But the angel said unto them: Be not afraid. For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, that shall come to all the people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour which is Christ the Lord. And take this for a sign: you shall find the child swaddled and laid in a manger. And straight way there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly soldiers, lauding (praise, glory) God and saying: Glory to God on high, and peace on the earth: and unto men rejoicing.
     And it fortuned, as soon as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: let us go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is happened, which the Lord has showed unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe laid in a manger. And when they had seen it, they published abroad the saying which was told them of that child. And all that heard it, wondered at those things which were told them of the shepherds. But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, praising and lauding God for all that they had heard and seen, even as it was told unto them.
     And when the eighth day was come that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, which was named of the Angel before he was conceived in the womb.
     And when the time of their purification (after the law of Moses) was come, they brought him to Herusalem (Jerusalem), to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord: every man that first opens the matrix, shall be called holy to the Lord) and to offer (as it is said in the law of the Lord) a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. And behold there was a man in Herusalem (Jerusalem) whose name was Simeon. And the same man was just and feared God and longed for the consolation of Israel and the holy ghost was in him. And an answer was given him of the holy ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lords Christ. And he came by inspiration into the temple.
     And when the father and mother brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms and said. Lord, now let you your servant depart in peace according to your promise. For mine eyes have seen the saviour sent from you, Which you have prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
     And his father and mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother: behold, this child shall be the fall and resurrection of many in Israel, and a sign which shall be spoken against. And moreover the sword shall pierce your soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened.
     And there was a Prophetess, one Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Aser: which was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. And she had been a widow about four score and four years, which went never out of the temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day. And the same came forth that same hour, and praised the Lord, and spoke of him to all that looked for redemption in Herusalem (Jerusalem).
     And as soon as they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galile to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was with him.
     And his father and mother went to Herusalem (Jerusalem) every year at the feast of *ester. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Herusalem (Jerusalem) after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned home, the child Jesus bode still in Herusalem (Jerusalem) unknowing to his father and mother. For they supposed he had been in the company, and therefore came a days journey and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they went back again to Herusalem (Jerusalem), and sought him. And it fortuned after three days that they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and posing (asking questions) them. And all that heard him, marvelled at his wit and answers. *ester: exact spelling as found
     And when they saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said unto him: son, why have you thus dealt with us? Behold your father and I, have sought you, sorrowing, And he said unto them: how is it that you sought me? Wist (understand) you not that I must go about my fathers business? And they understood not the saying that he spoke to them. And he went with them, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and age and in favour with God and man.

CONTINUE

God's Truth