Luke 1:1-13 ▼

1 Whereas many have undertaken to compose a narrative of the things, which have been fully certified among us;

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

3 it seemed good to me also, having thoroughly traced them all from the very first, to write an account of them in order to thee,

4 most excellent Theophilus, that thou mayst know the certainty of the things wherein thou hast been instructed.

5 There was in the days of Herod king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the family of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, for Elisabeth was barren; and they were both far advanced in years.

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

9 according to the custom of dividing the office of the priests, that it fell to his lot to burn incense, entring into the temple of the Lord:

10 and all the people were praying without at the time of offering incense.

11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right hand of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was startled and struck with fear:

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 thou shalt call his name John: