Luke 1:11-38

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of z the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and a fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for b your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and c you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will d rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be e great before the Lord. And f he must not drink wine or strong g drink, and g he will be h filled with the Holy Spirit, i even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and j he will go before him k in the spirit and power of Elijah, l to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and m the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, n to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, o "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am p Gabriel. q I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, r you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in s the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in s the temple. And t he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And u when his time of v service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 "Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, w to take away my reproach among people."

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel x Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named y Nazareth, 27 z to a virgin betrothed 1 to a man whose name was Joseph, a of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, b O favored one, c the Lord is with you!" 2 29 But d she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for e you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, f you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and g you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of h the Most High. And the Lord God i will give to him the throne of j his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob k forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" 3

35 And the angel answered her, l "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of h the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born 4 will be called m holy - n the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her o who was called barren. 37 For p nothing will be impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant 5 of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And q the angel departed from her.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 30:1 - 10
    You shall make an altar on which to burn incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.
    Exodus 40:26 - 27
    He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil.
  2. Cross References
    Acts 19:17
    And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
  3. Cross References
    Acts 10:4
    And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
    Acts 10:31
    And said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
  4. Cross References
    Luke 1:60
    But his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John.
    Luke 1:63
    And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.
  5. Cross References
    Luke 1:58
    And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
  6. Cross References
    Luke 7:28
    I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
    Matthew 11:11
    Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
  7. Cross References
    Luke 7:33
    For John the Baptist has come eating no bread a...
    Numbers 6:3
    He shall separate himself from wine and strong ...
    Judges 13:4
    Therefore be careful and drink no wine or stron...
    Judges 13:7
    But he said to me, 'Behold, you shall conceive ...
    Judges 13:14
    She may not eat of anything that comes from the...
    Matthew 11:18
    For John came neither eating nor drinking, and ...
  8. Cross References
    Acts 2:15
    For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
    Acts 2:17
    'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
    Ephesians 5:18
    And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 2:15
    For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
    Acts 2:17
    And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
    Ephesians 5:18
    And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 1:41
    And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
    Luke 1:67
    And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying.
    Acts 2:4
    And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:1
    Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.
    Isaiah 49:5
    And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him - for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength -
    Jeremiah 1:5
    "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
    Galatians 1:15
    But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace.
  12. Cross References
    Luke 1:76
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.
    John 3:28
    You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.
  13. Cross References
    Matthew 11:14
    And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
  14. Cross References
    Malachi 4:6
    And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 10:21
    But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.
  16. Cross References
    Luke 7:27
    This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
    Matthew 11:10
    This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.
    Mark 1:2
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 15:8
    But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?
    Genesis 17:17
    Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed and said to himself, "Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
  18. Cross References
    Luke 1:26
    In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.
    Daniel 8:16
    And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.
    Daniel 9:21
    While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.
  19. Cross References
    Revelation 8:2
    Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
    1 Kings 17:1
    Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.
    Job 1:6
    Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.
    Isaiah 63:9
    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
    Matthew 18:10
    See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 3:26
    And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house.
    Ezekiel 24:27
    On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.
  21. Cross References
    Luke 1:9
    According to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
  22. Cross References
    Luke 1:21
    And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.
  23. Cross References
    Luke 1:62
    And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.
  24. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 23:8
    The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions.
    Luke 1:8
    Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty.
    2 Kings 11:5
    And he commanded them, "This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king's house
    1 Chronicles 9:25
    And their kinsmen who were in their villages were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with these.
  25. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:11
    And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 30:23
    She conceived and bore a son and said, "God has taken away my reproach.
    1 Samuel 1:6
    And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb.
    Psalms 113:9
    He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
    Isaiah 4:1
    And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.
  27. Cross References
    Luke 1:19
    And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
  28. Cross References
    Matthew 2:23
    And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene.
  29. Cross References
    Matthew 1:16
    And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
    Matthew 1:18
    Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
  30. Cross References
    Luke 2:4
    And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.
    Matthew 1:20
    But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
  31. Cross References
    Psalms 45:2
    You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
    Daniel 9:23
    At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
  32. Cross References
    Judges 6:12
    And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.
  33. Cross References
    Luke 1:12
    And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
  34. Cross References
    Acts 7:46
    Who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.
  35. Cross References
    Isaiah 7:14
    Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
  36. Cross References
    Luke 2:21
    And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
    Matthew 1:21
    She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
    Matthew 1:25
    But knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
  37. Cross References
    Luke 1:76
    And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.
    Luke 6:35
    But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
    Acts 7:48
    Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says.
    Mark 5:7
    And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.
  38. Cross References
    Luke 1:69
    And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in...
    2 Samuel 7:11 - 13
    From the time that I appointed judges over my p...
    2 Samuel 7:16
    And your house and your kingdom shall be made s...
    Psalms 89:4
    I will establish your offspring forever, and bu...
    Psalms 132:11
    The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which ...
    Isaiah 9:6 - 7
    For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...
    Isaiah 16:5
    Then a throne will be established in steadfast ...
    Acts 2:30
    Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God...
    Revelation 3:7
    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia ...
  39. Cross References
    Matthew 1:1
    The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  40. Cross References
    Daniel 2:44
    And in the days of those kings the God of heave...
    Daniel 7:14
    And to him was given dominion and glory and a k...
    Daniel 7:18
    But the saints of the Most High shall receive t...
    Daniel 7:27
    And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatn...
    Hebrews 1:8
    But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is...
    Revelation 11:15
    Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and th...
    John 12:34
    So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from ...
  41. Cross References
    Matthew 1:18
    Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.
    Matthew 1:20
    But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
  42. Cross References
    Luke 1:32
    He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
  43. Cross References
    John 6:69
    And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.
  44. Cross References
    Matthew 14:33
    And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.
  45. Cross References
    Luke 1:7
    But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
  46. Cross References
    Genesis 18:14
    Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.
    Matthew 19:26
    But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
  47. Cross References
    Judges 6:21
    Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight.
    Acts 12:10
    When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.