1. Since many have indeed taken in hand to set in order an account of the matters completely confirmed among us,
2. as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
3. it seemed good to me as well, having followed up all these matters exactly from the beginning, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilos,
4. that you might know the certainty of the words which you were taught.
5. There was in the days of Herodes, the sovereign of Yehuḏah, a certain priest named Zeḵaryah, of the division of Aḇiyah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aharon, and her name was Elisheḇa.
6. And they were both righteous before Elohim, blamelessly walking in all the commands and righteousnesses of יהוה.
7. And they had no child, because Elisheḇa was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8. And it came to be, that while he was serving as priest before Elohim in the order of his division,
9. according to the institute of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense when he went into the Dwelling Place of יהוה.
10. And the entire crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11. And a messenger of יהוה appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12. And when Zeḵaryah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13. But the messenger said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zeḵaryah, for your prayer is heard. And your wife Elisheḇa shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Yoḥanan.
14. “And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15. “For he shall be great before יהוה, and shall drink no wine and strong drink at all. And he shall be filled with the Set-apart Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16. “And he shall turn many of the children of Yisra’ĕl to יהוה their Elohim.
17. “And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Ěliyahu, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the insight of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for יהוה.”