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and by profession a physician, for the most part a companion of Paul, but who was also acquainted with the other apostles, has left us in two books, divinely inspired, evidences of the art of healing souls, which he had learned from them. One of these is the gospel, which he professes to have written as they delivered it to him. The other is the Acts of the Apostles, which he composed from his own knowledge." Jerome's testimony is nearly the same as that of Eusebius, whose account probably he copied with some slight verbal alterations. He says, that "Luke, a physician of Antioch, not unskilful in the Greek language, a constant companion of St. Paul in his travels, wrote a gospel; and another excellent volume, entitled the Acts of the Apostles. It is supposed, that Luke did not learn his gospel from St. Paul only, who had not seen our Lord in the flesh; but also from the other apostles. But the Acts he composed from what he had seen and knew himself."

GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO

SAINT LUKE.

CHAP. I.

S many* have undertaken to give a particular account of those things which are most 2 surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word: 3 It seemed good to me also, (having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,) to write unto thee in order, most ex4 cellent Theophilus, that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.

5 IN the days of Herod the king of Judea,

there was a priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordi7nances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren, aud they were both far advanced in years:

* Who perhaps were not wholly competent to it. That is, being contemporary, and acquainted with all persons and circumstances.

8 And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of 9 his course, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were 11 praying without, at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of in12 cense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was 13 troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his 14 name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, 16 even from his mother's womb. And many

of the children of Israel he shall turn to the 17 Lord their God. And he shall 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 a people prepared for the Lord. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and 19 my wife advanced in years. And the angel answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad 20 tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these

things shall be accomplished, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled 21 in their season. And the people waited for

Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long 22 in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained 23 speechless. And it came to pass, that, as soon

as the days of his ministration were accomplish24 ed, he departed to his own house. And after

those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and 25 hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me,in the days wherein he looked on me,to take away my reproach among men. 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was

sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named 27 Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of Da28 vid, and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed 29 art thou among women. And when she saw

him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this 30 should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear; not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with 31 God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy

womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call 32 his name JESUS.* He shall be great, and

* That is, a Savior, or deliverer.

shall be called the Son of the Most High,† and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne 33 of his father David. And he shall reign over

the house of Jacob forever; and of his king34 dom there shall be no end. Then said Mary

unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I 35 know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy One which shall be born of thee shall be called 36 the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her 37 who was called barren. For with God nothing 38 shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with haste, into a city of 40 Juda, and entered into the house of Zacharias, 41 and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and 42 Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed 43 is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this

to me, that the mother of my Lord should come

+ Christ is called the Son of God, as he was formed by an immediate divine power-See 35th verse., And because of his resurrection from the dead, see Acts xiii. 33.

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