The Purpose and Method of Luke’s Gospel

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those athings which 1have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who bfrom the beginning were ceyewitnesses and ministers of the word ddelivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having 2had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, emost excellent Theophilus, 4 fthat you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Zacharias Ministers in the Temple

5 There was gin the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, hof the division of iAbijah. His jwife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

8 So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, 3his lot fell kto burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 lAnd the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

An Angel Announces the Birth of John the Baptist

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of mthe altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, nhe was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and oyou shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and pmany will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be qgreat in the sight of the Lord, and rshall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, seven from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 tHe will also 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.”

Zacharias is Unable to Speak

18 And Zacharias said to the angel, u“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am vGabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you 4these glad wtidings. 20 But behold, xyou will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”