1. Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us.
2. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened.
3. So I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. Honourable Theophilus,
4. I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard.
5. When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest called Zechariah from the priestly group of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was from the family of Aaron.
6. Both of them were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that he had commanded.
7. But they did not have children. Elizabeth could not have any, and both Zechariah and Elizabeth were already old.
8. One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest.
9. According to the custom of the priests, he had been chosen to go into the Lord's temple that day and to burn incense,
10. while the people stood outside praying.
11. All at once an angel from the Lord appeared to Zechariah at the right side of the altar.
12. Zechariah was confused and afraid when he saw the angel.
13. But the angel told him:Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John.
14. His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad.
15. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born.