3 hIt seemed good to me also, ihaving had perfect understanding of all things kfrom the very first, to write unto thee lin order, mmost excellent nTheophilus, 4 oThat thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast pbeen instructed.

5 *There was qin the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, rof the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both srighteous before God, twalking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord ublameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was xbarren, and ythey both were now zwell stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God ain the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was bto burn incense when he went into cthe temple of the Lord. 10 And dthe whole multitude of the people were epraying dwithout at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him eean angel of the Lord standing on the right side of fthe altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, ghe was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and hthou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall irejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and jshall drink kneither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled kwith the Holy Ghost, even lfrom his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 mAnd he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to nturn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient ||to the wisdom of the just; oto make ready a people pprepared for the Lord.