Luke 1:8
New International Version
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

New Living Translation
One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.

English Standard Version
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

Berean Standard Bible
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

Berean Literal Bible
Now it came to pass, in his fulfilling the priestly service before God in the order of his division,

King James Bible
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

New King James Version
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

New American Standard Bible
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

NASB 1995
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

NASB 1977
Now it came about, while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the order of his division,

Amplified Bible
Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division,

Christian Standard Bible
When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

American Standard Version
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

Contemporary English Version
One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest.

English Revised Version
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Zechariah was on duty with his division of priests. As he served in God's presence,

Good News Translation
One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service.

International Standard Version
When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence,

Majority Standard Bible
One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

NET Bible
Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

New Heart English Bible
Now it happened, while he was performing the priest's office before God in the order of his division,

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priests' office before God in the order of his course,

Weymouth New Testament
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,

World English Bible
Now while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his division before God,

Berean Literal Bible
Now it came to pass, in his fulfilling the priestly service before God in the order of his division,

Young's Literal Translation
And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was in his being priest, in the arranging of the daily order before God,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,

New American Bible
Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God,

New Revised Standard Version
Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it happened, while he was ministering in the order of his ministry before God,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And as he was exercising his priestly function in the order of his service before God,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
It came to pass, while he was officiating as priest before God, in the order of his class, that,

Godbey New Testament
And it came to pass, while he was officiating in the order of his course before God,

Haweis New Testament
And it came to pass, as he discharged his priestly office in the order of his periodical ministration before God,

Mace New Testament
now Zachary was to officiate in divine service, in the order of his family,

Weymouth New Testament
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,

Worrell New Testament
Now it came to pass, that, while he was doing priestly service in the order of his course before God,

Worsley New Testament
And it came to pass, while he was in the order of his course performing the priest's office before God,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gabriel Foretells John's Birth
7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. 8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 24:19
This was their appointed order for service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

2 Chronicles 8:14
In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.

1 Samuel 2:18
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.

2 Chronicles 31:2
Hezekiah reestablished the divisions of the priests and Levites—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—for the burnt offerings and peace offerings, for ministry, for giving thanks, and for singing praises at the gates of the LORD’s dwelling.

Exodus 28:1
“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests.

1 Chronicles 23:13
The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister before Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever.

2 Chronicles 29:11
Now, my sons, do not be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, to minister before Him, and to burn incense.”

Hebrews 5:1
Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Numbers 18:7
But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

1 Chronicles 6:49
But Aaron and his sons did all the work of the Most Holy Place. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

2 Chronicles 35:4
Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and Solomon his son.

Hebrews 9:6
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

1 Chronicles 9:25-26
Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods. / But the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God.

1 Chronicles 24:3
With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

he.

Exodus 28:1,41
And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons…

Exodus 29:1,9,44
And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, …

Exodus 30:30
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

in.

Luke 1:5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

1 Chronicles 24:19
These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

2 Chronicles 8:14
And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.

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Acting Appointed Class Course Division Duty Executed Fulfilled Office Once Order Performing Prescribed Priest Priestly Priests Priest's Service Serving Turn Zechariah's
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Acting Appointed Class Course Division Duty Executed Fulfilled Office Once Order Performing Prescribed Priest Priestly Priests Priest's Service Serving Turn Zechariah's
Luke 1
1. The preface of Luke to his whole gospel.
5. The conception of John the Baptist;
26. and of Jesus.
39. The prophecy of Elisabeth and of Mary, concerning Jesus.
57. The nativity and circumcision of John.
67. The prophecy of Zachariah, both of Jesus,
76. and of John.














One day
This phrase sets the stage for a specific moment in time, indicating that the events about to unfold are part of God's divine plan. In the Greek, "μίαν τῶν ἡμερῶν" (mian tōn hēmerōn) suggests a particular day chosen by God for His purpose. It reminds us that God’s timing is perfect, and He orchestrates events in our lives according to His will.

while Zechariah’s division was on duty
Zechariah belonged to the division of Abijah, one of the 24 divisions of priests established by King David (1 Chronicles 24:10). Each division served in the temple for one week, twice a year. This historical context highlights the structured and orderly worship system in place, reflecting God’s desire for order and reverence in worship. It also underscores the faithfulness of Zechariah in fulfilling his priestly duties.

and he was serving as priest before God
The role of a priest was to act as a mediator between God and the people, offering sacrifices and prayers. The Greek word "λειτουργῶν" (leitourgōn) implies a public service or ministry. Zechariah’s service "before God" emphasizes the sacredness of his duties and the direct accountability to God. This phrase inspires believers to view their own service to God as a holy and honorable calling, performed with humility and dedication.

(8) In the order of his course.--This was settled by rotation. Attempts have been made by reckoning back from the date of the destruction of the Temple, when it is known that the "course" of Joiarib was ministering on the ninth day of the Jewish month Ab, to fix the precise date of the events here narrated, and so of our Lord's Nativity, but all such attempts are necessarily more or less precarious.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
One day
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

while
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

[Zechariah’s]
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

division
ἐφημερίας (ephēmerias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2183: From ephemeros; diurnality, i.e. the quotidian rotation or class of the Jewish priests' service at the Temple, as distributed by families.

was on duty
τάξει (taxei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5010: From tasso; regular arrangement, i.e. fixed succession, official dignity.

[and]
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

he
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

was serving as priest
ἱερατεύειν (hierateuein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2407: To serve as priest. Prolongation from hiereus; to be a priest, i.e. Perform his functions.

before
ἔναντι (enanti)
Preposition
Strong's 1725: Before, in the presence of. From en and anti; in front of.

God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.


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NT Gospels: Luke 1:8 Now it happened while he executed (Luke Lu Lk)
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