Lukas 1 | Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

1 Højtærede Teofilus! Der er mange, som har berettet om de begivenheder, der har fundet sted iblandt os, og vi har hørt det fortalt af dem, der fra begyndelsen var øjenvidner og senere forkyndte os Guds ord. Når jeg nu har sat mig for at gennemgå det alt sammen og nedskrive det for dig i rækkefølge, 4 er det, for at du kan blive overbevist om pålideligheden af det, du er blevet undervist om.

Johannes Døbers mirakuløse undfangelse

5 Dengang Herodes* regerede over jødernes land, var der en jødisk præst ved navn Zakarias. Han hørte til Abijas skiftehold* blandt præsterne. Hans kone, Elisabet, var efterkommer af Aron, ligesom han selv var. 6 De var retskafne mennesker og efterlevede Guds lov til punkt og prikke. 7 Men de havde ingen børn, for Elisabet kunne ikke få børn, og nu var de begge oppe i årene. 8 En dag, da Zakarias var i færd med sin tjeneste i templet, for det var hans hold, der havde tjeneste i den uge, 9 tilfaldt det ham ved lodtrækning at gå ind i det hellige rum i templet for at bringe røgelsesofferet. 10 Imens han var i færd med det, stod en stor forsamling af jøder ude i tempelgården og bad, som de plejede, når der brændtes røgelse. 11 Pludselig fik Zakarias inde i templet øje på en engel, der stod på højre side af røgelsesalteret, 12 og det gjorde ham skrækslagen. 13 „Vær ikke bange, Zakarias!” sagde englen. „Jeg er kommet for at fortælle dig, at Gud har hørt dine bønner. Din kone Elisabet vil få en søn, som du skal kalde Johannes. 14 Han vil blive til stor glæde for dig selv og mange andre, 15 for han vil blive en af Guds største tjenere. Han må aldrig drikke vin eller øl, og han vil blive fyldt med Helligåndens kraft,* allerede før han bliver født. 16 Mange af Israels folk vil vende om fra deres ondskab og søge Herren, deres Gud, når de hører ham tale. 17 Johannes vil træde frem i profeten Elias’ ånd og kraft. Han vil hjælpe forældre til at blive forsonet med deres børn og hjælpe de ulydige til at forstå visdommen i at gøre Guds vilje. Han vil gøre folket parat til at møde Herren.*” 18 „Det har jeg svært ved at tro,” indvendte Zakarias. „Jeg er jo en halvgammel mand, og min kone er også godt oppe i årene. Giver du mig et tegn, så jeg kan tro på det?” 19 Englen svarede: „Jeg er Gabriel, Guds betroede tjener, og han har sendt mig herhen for at fortælle dig den gode nyhed. 20 Men fordi du tvivlede på, hvad jeg sagde, vil du få det tegn at blive stum. Du vil ikke kunne sige et eneste ord, før barnet er født. Men det, jeg har sagt, vil ske til den fastsatte tid!” 21 Forsamlingen udenfor stod og ventede på, at Zakarias skulle komme ud til dem, og de undrede sig over, at han blev så længe inde i templet. 22 Da han endelig kom ud, kunne han ikke få et ord frem, og folk forstod, at han havde haft et syn i templet. Han forsøgte med tegn og fagter at forklare, hvad der var sket. 23 Efter at Zakarias havde fuldført sin tjenesteuge i templet, vendte han tilbage til sit hjem. 24 Og det varede ikke længe, før Elisabet blev gravid, hvorefter hun holdt sig inden døre i fem måneder. 25 „Det er Gud, der har gjort det!” udbrød hun. „Han har været nådig imod mig og taget min skam bort.”*

Den mirakuløse undfangelse af Jesus, Guds Søn

26 Et halvt år efter at Gud havde sendt Gabriel til Zakarias, sendte han ham til Nazaret i Galilæa, 27 hvor der var en ung pige ved navn Maria. Hun var forlovet med en mand, der hed Josef, og han var af Kong Davids slægt. 28 Da Gabriel kom til hende, sagde han: „Fred være med dig! Du er elsket af Gud, og han har store planer med dig.” 29 Maria blev forbløffet over de ord og spekulerede på, hvad meningen kunne være. 30 „Vær ikke bange, Maria,” sagde englen, „for du er udvalgt af Gud. 31 Du vil blive gravid og føde en søn, som du skal give navnet Jesus. 32 Han vil få stor betydning, for han er den Almægtiges Søn. Gud Herren vil sætte ham på Davids trone, 33 og han skal for altid være konge over Israels folk. Hans herredømme vil aldrig få ende.” 34 „Men hvordan skulle jeg kunne få et barn?” spurgte Maria. „Jeg har jo ikke nogen mand.”* 35 Englen svarede: „Helligånden vil komme over dig, og den almægtige Guds kraft vil gøre et under i dig. Derfor vil det barn, du skal føde, blive et helligt barn, Guds Søn. 36 Og jeg kan fortælle dig, at din gamle slægtning Elisabet, som aldrig har kunnet få børn, nu venter et barn. Hun er allerede i sjette måned. 37 Intet er umuligt for Gud.” 38 „Så er jeg parat til at acceptere Guds vilje,” udbrød Maria. „Lad det blot ske, som du har sagt.” Så forlod englen hende.

Maria besøger Elisabet

39 Maria tog nu af sted til Judæas højland, til den by, hvor Zakarias boede, for hun ville besøge Elisabet. 41 I samme øjeblik Elisabet hørte Marias fredshilsen, sparkede barnet inde i hendes mave, og hun blev fyldt med Helligåndens kraft. 42 „Maria!” råbte hun glædestrålende, „hvor er du en velsignet kvinde, og velsignet er det barn, du venter. 43 Hvilken ære, at min Herres mor kommer og besøger mig. 44 Netop da jeg hørte din fredshilsen, hoppede barnet inden i mig af fryd. 45 Du er velsignet, fordi du troede på, at Gud ville opfylde det løfte, han gav dig.”

Marias lovprisning

46 Maria brød nu ud i en lovprisning til Gud: „Jeg priser Herren af hele mit hjerte! 47 Jeg fryder mig over Gud, min Frelser, 48 for han har udvalgt mig, sin ringe tjener. Alle kommende slægter vil kalde mig velsignet, 49 for den Almægtige har gjort store ting mod mig. Han er en hellig Gud, 50 og hans trofaste nåde gælder alle, der ærer ham. 51 Han straffer enhver, som har hovmod i hjertet, og spreder dem for alle vinde. 52 Verdens fyrster styrter han fra tronen, men de ydmyge ophøjer han. 53 De sultne mætter han med alt godt, men de rige sender han tomhændet bort. 54 Han er kommet for at hjælpe sin tjener Israel ved at opfylde sit løfte om nåde, 55 det løfte, han gav vores forfædre, om at velsigne Abraham og hans børn for evigt.” 56 Maria blev hos Elisabet i omtrent tre måneder og vendte så tilbage til sit hjem.

Johannes Døbers fødsel

57 Dagen kom, hvor Elisabet skulle føde, og hun fik en dreng. 58 Familie og naboer fik hurtigt den gode nyhed at vide, og alle glædede sig over Guds godhed mod hende. 59 Ugedagen* efter kom slægt og venner for at deltage i omskærelsesceremonien. Alle regnede med, at drengen skulle hedde Zakarias som sin far, 60 men Elisabet sagde: „Nej, han skal hedde Johannes!”* 61 „Hvorfor?” udbrød de. „Der er ikke én i hele familien, der hedder sådan.” 62 Så spurgte de med tegn og fagter barnets far, hvad han ønskede, drengen skulle hedde. 63 Han bad om en tavle, og til alles store overraskelse skrev han: „Drengens navn er Johannes.” 64 I samme øjeblik kunne Zakarias tale igen, og han begyndte at lovprise Gud. 65 Naboerne blev slået af forundring, og beretningen herom gik fra mund til mund over hele Judæas højland. 66 Alle, der hørte om det, undrede sig og sagde: „Hvad mon Gud har for med den dreng?” De mirakler, der var sket, gjorde det klart, at Gud havde særlige planer med ham. 67 Johannes’ far, Zakarias, blev fyldt med Helligåndens kraft og profeterede: 68 „Lovet være Herren, Israels Gud, for han har besluttet at befri sit folk. 69 Han har ladet fremstå en forunderlig Frelser af sin tjener Davids slægt. 70 Det forudsagde han gennem sine hellige profeter i fordums tid: 71 En Frelser, der skal befri os fra vore fjender, fra alle, der hader os. 72 Han husker sin pagt med Abraham, det løfte, han selv har givet, om at vi altid kunne tjene ham i hellighed og retfærdighed uden frygt for vore fjender. 76 Og du, mit barn, du skal kaldes den Højestes profet, for du skal bane vej for Herren. 77 Du skal fortælle hans folk om frelsen, ved at de får deres synd tilgivet 78 som følge af Guds inderlige barmhjertighed. Solen fra det Høje er på vej for at hjælpe os. 79 Hans lys vil skinne for dem, som lever i mørke og i dødens skygge, og han vil lede vore fødder ind på fredens vej.” 80 Johannes voksede op og var meget modtagelig for åndelig åbenbarelse. Han opholdt sig i ødemarken, mens han forberedte sig til den dag, da han skulle træde offentligt frem for Israels folk.

English Standard Version

Dedication to Theophilus

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,* of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “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 Gabriel. 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, 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 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 the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of 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, to take away my reproach among people.”

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed* to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”* 29 But 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 you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob 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?”* 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born* will be called holy—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 who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant* of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be* a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Mary’s Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on 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 for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us* from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Lukas 1 | Bibelen på hverdagsdansk English Standard Version