Luke 1:3-11

³and so I also decided that since I have followed these things very carefully from the beginning, it would be a good idea to write out an accurate account of all that happened.

⁴I have done this dear Theophilus so you can be certain that what you were taught is completely reliable.

⁵During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah, who came from the Abijah priestly division. He was married to Elizabeth, who was also descended from Aaron the priest.

⁶They both did what was right before God, being careful to follow all the Lord's commandments and regulations.

⁷They had no children because Elizabeth wasn't able to have any, and they were both growing old.

⁸While Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, on behalf of his priestly division,

⁹he was chosen by lot according to priestly custom to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.

¹⁰During the time of offering incense a large crowd of people were praying outside.

¹¹An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing to the right of the altar of incense.