Luke's Story

by JERRY JENKINS

  The Song of Mary

  46And Mary said:

  “My soul magnifies the Lord,

  47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

  1:28 aNU-Text omits blessed are you among women. 1:29 aNU-Text omits when she saw him.

  48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

  For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

  49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

  And holy is His name.

  50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him

  From generation to generation.

  51 He has shown strength with His arm;

  He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

  52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

  And exalted the lowly.

  53 He has filled the hungry with good things,

  And the ricate of Hifore Him all the days of our life.

  76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

  For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

  77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people

  By the remission of their sins,

  78 Through the tender mercy of our God,

  With which the Dayspring from on high has visiteda us;

  79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

  To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

  80So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

  1:78 aNU-Text reads shall visit.

  Christ Born of Mary

  2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

  4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,a who was with child. 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

  Glory in the Highest

  8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold,a an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

  13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

  14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”a

  15So it was, wh/b>And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17Now when they had seen Him, they made widelya known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

  Circumcision of Jesus

  21And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child,a His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

  Jesus Presented in the Temple

  22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”),a 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”a

  Simeon Sees God’s Salvation

  25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

  29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,

  According to Your word;

  30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation

  31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

  32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,

  And the glory of Your people Israel.”

  33And Joseph and His mothera marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

  2:21 aNU-Text reads for His circumcision. 2:23 aExodus 13:2, 12, 15 2:24 aLeviticus 12 Redeemer

  36Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years,a who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord,a and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

  The Family Returns to Nazareth

  39So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40And the Child grew and became strong in spirit,a filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

  The Boy Jesus

  Amazes the Scholars

  41His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mothera did not know it; 44but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

  2:37 aNU-Text reads a widow until she was eighty-four. 2:38 aNU-Text reads to God. 2:40 aNU-Text omits in spirit. 2:43 aNU-Text reads And His parents.

  49And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

  Jesus Advances in

  Wisdom and Favor

  51Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

  John the Baptist

  Prepares the Way

  3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abhis well pleased.”

  The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

  3:19 aNU-Text r
eads his brother’s wife. 3:24 aThis and several other names in the genealogy are spelled somewhat differently in the NU-Text. Since the New King James Version uses the Old Testament spelling for persons mentioned in the New Testament, these variations, which come from the Greek, have not been footnoted.

  23Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat,a the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, 27the s

  on of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

  Satan Tempts Jesus

  4 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit intoa the wilderness, 2being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

  3And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

  4But Jesus answered him, saying,a “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by ever 61:1, 2

  20Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

  23He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,a do also here in Your country.’” 24Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. 25But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,a in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

  28So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, 29and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

  Jesus Casts Out

  an Unclean Spirit

  31Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

  4:23 aHere and elsewhere the NU-Text spelling is Capharnaum.

  4:26 aGreek Sarepta

  35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37And the re-port about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

  Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed

  38Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it sup>37

  36Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one;a otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.a 39And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately a desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”b

  Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

  6 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the firsta that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. 2And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

  3But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” 6And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

  Healing on the Sabbath

  6Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”a 10And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,a “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.b 11But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

  The Twelve Apostles

  12Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

  Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

  17And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples d will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the un-thankful and evil. 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

  Do Not Judge

  37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

  39And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remov
e the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

  A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

  43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his hearta brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.