^{3 Ref} it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;

^{4 Ref} that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.

^{5 Ref} There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

^{6 Ref} And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

^{7 Ref} And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were `now' well stricken in years.

^{8 Ref} Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

^{9 Ref} according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

^{10 Ref} And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.

^{11 Ref} And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.

^{12 Ref} And Zacharias was troubled when he saw `him', and fear fell upon him.

^{13 Ref} But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

^{14 Ref} And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

^{15 Ref} For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

^{16 Ref} And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.

^{17 Ref} And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient `to walk' in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared `for him'.