Luke 1:1–11

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.