Luke 1:1-25

1Since many have undertaken to compile an account of the things 12accomplished among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who 3from the beginning 4were 5eyewitnesses and 67servants of 8the 9word, 3it seemed fitting to me as well, 10having 11investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you 12in an orderly sequence, 13most excellent 14Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about the 15things you have been 1617taught.

518In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the 19division of 20Abijah; and he had a wife 21from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6They were both 22righteous in the sight of God, walking 23blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in 24years.

8Now it happened that while 25he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot 26to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer 27outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11Now 28an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and 29fear 30gripped him. 13But the angel said to him, “31Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and 32you shall 33name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will 34drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit 35while still in his mother’s womb. 16And he will 36turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17And it is he who will 37go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of 38Elijah, 39to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to 40make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For 41I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her 42years.” 19The angel answered and said to him, “I am 43Gabriel, who 4445stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

21And meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22But 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 repeatedly 4647made signs to them, and remained speechless. 23When the days of his priestly service were concluded, he went back home.

24Now after these days his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself 48in seclusion for five months, saying, 25“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to 49take away my disgrace among people.”