Luke 1:1-13

¹Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

²just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

³So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

⁴so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

⁵In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, from the division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

⁶They were both righteous before God, obeying all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

⁷But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old by this time.

⁸Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.

⁹According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

¹⁰The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.

¹¹Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.

¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.

¹³But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.