1 Quoniam quidem multi conati sunt ordinare narrationem, quæ in nobis completæ sunt, rerum: 2 sicut tradiderunt nobis, qui ab initio ipsi viderunt, et ministri fuerunt sermonis: 3 visum est et mihi, assecuto omnia a principio diligenter, ex ordine tibi scribere, optime Theophile, 4 ut cognoscas eorum verborum, de quibus eruditus es, veritatem. 5 Fuit in diebus Herodis, regis Judææ, sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias de vice Abia, et uxor illius de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth. 6 Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela. 7 Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis. 8 Factum est autem, cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suæ ante Deum, 9 secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret, ingressus in templum Domini: 10 et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi. 11 Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi. 12 Et Zacharias turbatus est videns, et timor irruit super eum. 13 Ait autem ad illum angelus: Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua: et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem: 14 et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt: 15 erit enim magnus coram Domino: et vinum et siceram non bibet, et Spiritu Sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suæ: 16 et multos filiorum Israël convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum: 17 et ipse præcedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliæ: ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam. 18 Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: Unde hoc sciam? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis. 19 Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Ego sum Gabriel, qui asto ante Deum: et missus sum loqui ad te, et hæc tibi evangelizare. 20 Et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo hæc fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quæ implebuntur in tempore suo. 21 Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam: et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo. 22 Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus. 23 Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam: 24 post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens: 25 Quia sic fecit mihi Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines. 26 In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilææ, cui nomen Nazareth, 27 ad virginem desponsatam viro, cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David: et nomen virginis Maria. 28 Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit: Ave gratia plena: Dominus tecum: benedicta tu in mulieribus. 29 Quæ cum audisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. 30 Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria: invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum. 31 Ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: 32 hic erit magnus, et Filius Altissimi vocabitur, et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus: et regnabit in domo Jacob in æternum, 33 et regni ejus non erit finis. 34 Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? 35 Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. 36 Et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua: et hic mensis sextus est illi, quæ vocatur sterilis: 37 quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum. 38 Dixit autem Maria: Ecce ancilla Domini: fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus. 39 Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione, in civitatem Juda: 40 et intravit in domum Zachariæ, et salutavit Elisabeth. 41 Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariæ Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus: et repleta est Spiritu Sancto Elisabeth: 42 et exclamavit voce magna, et dixit: Benedicta tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tui. 43 Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me? 44 Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuæ in auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo. 45 Et beata, quæ credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea, quæ dicta sunt tibi a Domino. 46 Et ait Maria: [Magnificat anima mea Dominum: 47 et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. 48 Quia respexit humilitatem ancillæ suæ: ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, 49 quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est: et sanctum nomen ejus, 50 et misericordia ejus a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. 51 Fecit potentiam in brachio suo: dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. 52 Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. 53 Esurientes implevit bonis: et divites dimisit inanes. 54 Suscepit Israël puerum suum, recordatus misericordiæ suæ: 55 sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in sæcula.] 56 Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus: et reversa est in domum suam. 57 Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium. 58 Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei. 59 Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam. 60 Et respondens mater ejus, dixit: Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes. 61 Et dixerunt ad illam: Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine. 62 Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum. 63 Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens: Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi. 64 Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum. 65 Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum: et super omnia montana Judææ divulgabantur omnia verba hæc: 66 et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes: Quis, putas, puer iste erit? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo. 67 Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto: et prophetavit, dicens: 68 [Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ: 69 et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui, 70 sicut locutum est per os sanctorum, qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum ejus: 71 salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos: 72 ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris: et memorari testamenti sui sancti: 73 jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis 74 ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illi 75 in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris. 76 Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus, 77 ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum 78 per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto: 79 illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.] 80 Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu: et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suæ ad Israël.
Luke 1 Clementine Vulgate
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Elizabeth
A daughter of Aaron and wife of Zechariah, barren and well along in years, who conceived John; Luke 1:36 calls her a relative of Mary, and Mary stayed with her about three months.
Cited in the guide: Luke 1:5; Luke 1:36; Luke 1:41
Gabriel
The man-like heavenly figure who was told to make Daniel understand a vision and who came to him at the evening offering with insight. In Luke he announces the birth of John to…
Cited in the guide: Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21; Luke 1:19
John the Baptist
Son of Zechariah, who preached in the wilderness and baptized in the Jordan, pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, rebuked Herod over Herodias and was imprisoned and beheaded.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 3:1; Matthew 14:3; Luke 1:13
Joseph
The carpenter of Nazareth, a just man who became Jesus' legal father.
Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:16-25; 2:13-23; Luke 1:27; 2:1-7
Mary
The virgin mother of Jesus, a young woman of Nazareth who trusted God's word.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 1; Luke 1-2
Theophilus
The person to whom Luke wrote his orderly account so that he would know the certainty of what he had been taught.
Cited in the guide: Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1
Zechariah
A priest of the division of Abijah in the days of Herod, struck silent when the angel Gabriel promised his aged wife Elizabeth a son, and who named the child John.
Cited in the guide: Luke 1:5; Luke 1:13; Luke 1:63
Cross references (73)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 1:1–3; 2 Peter 1:16–19; John 20:31; 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Timothy 4:17
- 2 John 15:27; Acts 26:16; Hebrews 2:3; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1–3
- 3 Acts 1:1; Acts 26:25; Ecclesiastes 12:9; Acts 11:4; Acts 15:19
- 4 John 20:31; Acts 18:25; 1 Corinthians 14:19; Galatians 6:6; Romans 2:18
- 5 1 Chronicles 24:10; Matthew 2:1; 1 Chronicles 24:19; Nehemiah 12:4; Nehemiah 12:17
- 6 Genesis 7:1; Genesis 17:1; Philippians 2:15; 1 Kings 9:4; Job 1:1
- 7 Hebrews 11:11; Genesis 18:11; Genesis 25:21; 1 Samuel 1:2; Genesis 17:17
- 8 2 Chronicles 8:14; 1 Chronicles 24:19; 2 Chronicles 31:2; Luke 1:5; Exodus 29:1
- 9 2 Chronicles 29:11; 1 Chronicles 23:13; Exodus 30:7–8; Numbers 16:40; 1 Samuel 2:28
- 10 Leviticus 16:17; Revelation 8:3; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 9:24
- 11 Exodus 40:26–27; Acts 10:3–4; Judges 13:3; Revelation 9:13; Judges 13:9
- 12 Judges 6:22; Judges 13:22; Luke 2:9–10; Acts 10:4; Revelation 1:17
- 13 1 Samuel 2:21; Acts 10:31; Psalm 113:9; Genesis 25:21; Psalm 127:3–5
- 14 Luke 1:58; Proverbs 23:24; Proverbs 15:20; Genesis 21:6; Proverbs 23:15
- 15 Jeremiah 1:5; Numbers 6:2–4; Ephesians 5:18; Judges 13:4–6; Galatians 1:15
- 16 Matthew 21:32; Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3–5; Matthew 3:1–6; Isaiah 49:6
- 17 Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 11:14; Luke 1:76; John 1:21–30; Matthew 17:11–12
- 18 Genesis 17:17; Genesis 18:12; Isaiah 38:22; Luke 1:7; Luke 1:34
- 19 Luke 1:26; Matthew 18:10; Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21–23; Luke 2:10
- 20 Ezekiel 3:26; Ezekiel 24:27; Hebrews 6:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; Luke 1:22
- 21 Numbers 6:23–27
- 22 John 13:24; Acts 12:17; Luke 1:62; Acts 21:40; Acts 19:33
- 23 1 Chronicles 9:25; 2 Kings 11:5–7
- 25 Genesis 30:22–23; Isaiah 4:1; Isaiah 54:1–4; Genesis 21:1–2; Genesis 25:21
- 26 Matthew 2:23; Luke 1:19; John 7:41; John 1:45–46; Luke 2:4
- 27 Matthew 1:18; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:16; Matthew 1:20–21; Matthew 1:23
- 28 Judges 6:12; Daniel 10:19; Luke 1:30; Ephesians 1:6; Daniel 9:21–23
- 29 Acts 10:17; Luke 1:12; Acts 10:4; Mark 6:49–50; Luke 2:19
- 30 Luke 1:13; Romans 8:31; Luke 12:32; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 14:27
- 31 Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:21; Matthew 1:23
- 32 Isaiah 9:6–7; Isaiah 16:5; 2 Samuel 7:11–13; Psalm 132:11; Luke 1:35
- 33 Daniel 2:44; Hebrews 1:8; Daniel 7:13–14; Daniel 7:27; Psalm 89:35–37
- 35 Matthew 1:18; John 1:49; Matthew 1:20; John 1:34; Luke 1:31–32
- 37 Matthew 19:26; Jeremiah 32:27; Mark 10:27; Jeremiah 32:17; Luke 18:27
- 38 Romans 4:20–21; Psalm 119:38; Psalm 116:16; 2 Samuel 7:25–29
- 39 Luke 1:65; Joshua 15:48–59; Joshua 10:40; Joshua 20:7; Joshua 21:9–11
- 41 Luke 1:67; Luke 1:44; Acts 4:8; Acts 2:4; Luke 1:15
- 42 Judges 5:24; Genesis 22:18; Luke 1:28; Luke 19:38; Luke 1:48
- 43 John 20:28; John 13:13; Luke 2:11; 1 Samuel 25:41; Luke 20:42–44
- 45 John 20:29; John 11:40; Luke 11:27–28; Luke 1:20; 2 Chronicles 20:20
- 46 1 Samuel 2:1–10; Psalm 34:2–3; Psalm 35:9; Isaiah 61:10; Psalm 103:1–2
- 47 Psalm 35:9; Habakkuk 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:3; Isaiah 45:21–22; Titus 2:10
- 48 Psalm 138:6; 1 Corinthians 1:26–28; Malachi 3:12; 1 Samuel 1:11; Psalm 136:23
- 49 Ephesians 3:20; Psalm 126:2–3; Psalm 111:9; Psalm 99:3; Jeremiah 10:6
- 50 Psalm 103:17–18; Exodus 20:6; Genesis 17:7; Psalm 118:4; Exodus 34:6–7
- 51 Psalm 98:1; Isaiah 52:10; 1 Samuel 2:3–4; Isaiah 51:9; Romans 1:21
- 52 Ezekiel 17:24; James 4:10; Psalm 107:40–41; Luke 18:14; 1 Samuel 2:6–8
- 53 Psalm 107:8–9; Luke 6:21; Psalm 34:10; Luke 6:24; Matthew 5:6
- 54 Psalm 98:3; Micah 7:20; Isaiah 44:21; Isaiah 49:14–16; Jeremiah 31:20
- 55 Genesis 17:19; Psalm 105:6–10; Galatians 3:16–17; Psalm 132:11–17; Genesis 22:18
- 57 Luke 1:13; Genesis 21:2–3; Luke 2:6–7; Numbers 23:19
- 58 Romans 12:15; Ruth 4:14–17; 1 Corinthians 12:26; Luke 1:14; Luke 1:25
- 59 Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3; Luke 2:21; Philippians 3:5; Acts 7:8
- 60 Luke 1:13; 2 Samuel 12:25; Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:63; Isaiah 8:3
- 62 Luke 1:22
- 63 Luke 1:60; Isaiah 30:8; Luke 1:13; Habakkuk 2:2; Jeremiah 17:1
- 64 Luke 1:20; Exodus 4:15–16; Ezekiel 33:22; Jeremiah 1:9; Daniel 4:34–37
- 65 Luke 1:39; Acts 5:5; Acts 5:11; Acts 2:43; Luke 7:16
- 66 Acts 11:21; Luke 2:19; Luke 2:51; Genesis 39:2; Luke 9:44
- 67 Joel 2:28; Luke 1:41; Luke 1:15; 2 Peter 1:21; Numbers 11:25
- 68 Psalm 106:48; Luke 7:16; Psalm 111:9; Psalm 41:13; Exodus 4:31
- 69 Psalm 18:2; Ezekiel 29:21; 2 Samuel 22:3; 1 Samuel 2:10; Psalm 89:17
- 70 Acts 3:21–24; Romans 1:2; 2 Peter 1:21; Acts 28:25; Genesis 49:10
- 71 Psalm 106:10; Jeremiah 23:6; Deuteronomy 33:29; Zephaniah 3:15–20; Jeremiah 32:37
- 72 Leviticus 26:42; Hebrews 6:13–18; Micah 7:20; Psalm 106:45; Genesis 28:14
- 73 Genesis 22:16–18; Deuteronomy 7:8; Psalm 105:9; Jeremiah 11:5; Deuteronomy 7:12
- 74 Zephaniah 3:15–17; 2 Timothy 1:7; Isaiah 54:13–14; Romans 8:15; Hebrews 9:14
- 75 Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11–14; 2 Timothy 1:9; Jeremiah 31:33–34
- 76 Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 40:3–5; Mark 1:2–3; John 1:23; Matthew 3:3
- 77 Acts 5:31; Acts 10:43; Acts 2:38; John 1:34; Ephesians 1:7
- 78 Malachi 4:2; 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16; Numbers 24:17; Ephesians 5:14
- 79 Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16; Acts 26:18; Isaiah 42:7; Ephesians 5:8
- 80 Luke 2:40; Mark 1:3–4; Luke 2:52; 1 Samuel 3:19–20; Matthew 3:1
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… Jacob to Emmanuel, they showed, by these gifts which they offered, who it was that was worshipped; myrrh, because it was He who should die and be buried for the mortal human race; gold, because He was a King, "of whose kingdom is no end;" and frankincense, because He was God, who also "was made known in Judea," and was …
… know," meaning that some sign might be given by which he might know the manner of those things which he had believed, just as it is not for lack of faith the Virgin Mary says, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" for she inquired as to the way in which that should take place which she …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Now Luke tells us also the cause wherefore he proceeds to write: "that thou mayest hold," saith he, "the certainty of the words wherein thou hast been instructed;" that is, that being continually reminded thou mayest hold to the certainty, and abide in certainty.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Gabriel too testifies plainly to Mary, saying, And the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
What greater destiny can befall man's humility than that he should be intermingled with God, and by this intermingling should be deified, and that we should be so visited by the Dayspring from on high, that even that Holy Thing that should be born should be called the Son of the Highest, and that there should be bestowed upon Him …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)