Luke 1:21-38

New Life Version

²¹ The people outside were waiting. They were surprised and wondered why Zacharias stayed so long in the house of God. ²² When he came out, he could not talk to them. They knew he had seen something special from God while he was in the house of God. He tried to talk to them with his hands but could say nothing. ²³ When his days of working in the house of God were over, he went to his home.

The Lord Did What He Promised

²⁴ Some time later Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother. She kept herself hidden for five months. She said, ²⁵ “This is what the Lord has done for me. He has looked on me and has taken away my shame from among men.”

Gabriel Speaks to Mary

²⁶ Six months after Elizabeth knew she was to become a mother, Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth. Nazareth was a town in the country of Galilee. ²⁷ He went to a woman who had never had a man. Her name was Mary. She was promised in marriage to a man named Joseph. Joseph was of the family of David. ²⁸ The angel came to her and said, “You are honored very much. You are a favored woman. The Lord is with you. *You are chosen from among many women.”

²⁹ When she saw the angel, she was troubled at his words. She thought about what had been said. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid. You have found favor with God. ³¹ See! You are to become a mother and have a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus. ³² He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat. ³³ He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen? I have never had a man.” ³⁵ The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The power of the Most High will cover you. The holy Child you give birth to will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ “See, your cousin Elizabeth, as old as she is, is going to give birth to a child. She was not able to have children before, but now she is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For God can do all things.” ³⁸ Then Mary said, “I am willing to be used of the Lord. Let it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel went away from her.