Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you’ve been taught.
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer’s been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you’re to call him John. He’ll be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he’ll be great in the sight of the Lord. He’s never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he’s born. He’ll bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he’ll go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I’m an old man and my wife’s well along in years.”
The angel said to him, “I’m Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I’ve been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you’ll be silent and unable to speak until the day this happens, because you didn’t believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he couldn’t speak to them. They realized he’d seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord’s done this for me,” she said. “In these days he’s shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Luke
At Break of Day 