Luke 1:1-13 ▼

1 SINCE many have undertaken to compose a history of the things that are fully believed among us,

2 even as they were delivered to us by those who were, from the beginning, eye-witnesses and ministers of the word;

3 it seemed good to me also, having obtained exact information of all things from the very first, to write them in order for you, most excel lent Theophilus,

4 that you might know the certainty of the things in which you have been instructed.

5 There was, in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest, named Zachariah, of the class of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6 They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless.

7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8 It came to pass, while he was officiating as priest before God, in the order of his class, that,

9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachariah; for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.