1. Many have attempted to write about what had taken place among us.
2. They received their information from those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of God’s word from the beginning, and they passed it on to us.
3. I, too, have followed everything closely from the beginning. So I thought it would be a good idea to write an orderly account for Your Excellency, Theophilus.
4. In this way you will know that what you’ve been told is true.
5. When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the division of priests named after Abijah. Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
6. Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly.
7. Yet, they never had any children because Elizabeth couldn’t become pregnant. Both of them were too old to have children.
8. Zechariah was on duty with his division of priests. As he served in God’s presence,
9. he was chosen by priestly custom to go into the Lord’s temple to burn incense.
10. All the people were praying outside while he was burning incense.
11. Then, to the right of the incense altar, an angel of the Lord appeared to him.
12. Zechariah was troubled and overcome with fear.
13. The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.