1Forasmuchas manyhave taken in handto set forth in ordera declarationofthose thingswhich are most surely believedamongus,
2Even asthey delivered them unto us, whichfromthe beginningwereeyewitnesses, andministersof the word;
3It seemed goodto me also, having hadperfectunderstandingof all thingsfrom the very first, to writeunto theein order, most excellentTheophilus,
4Thatthou mightest knowthe certaintyofthose things, whereinthou hast been instructed.
5There wasinthe daysof Herod, the kingof Judaea, a certainpriestnamedZacharias, ofthe courseof Abia: andhiswife was ofthe daughtersof Aaron, andhername was Elisabeth.
6Andthey werebothrighteousbeforeGod, walkinginallthe commandmentsandordinancesof the Lordblameless.
7Andtheyhadnochild, because thatElisabethwasbarren, andtheybothwere now well strickeninyears.
8Andit came to pass, that whileheexecuted the priest's officebeforeGodinthe orderof hiscourse,
9According tothe customof the priest's office, his lot wasto burn incensewhen he wentintothe templeof the Lord.
10Andthe wholemultitudeof the peoplewereprayingwithoutat the timeof incense.
11Andthere appearedunto himan angelof the Lordstandingonthe right sideof the altarof incense.
12AndwhenZachariassaw him, he was troubled, andfearfelluponhim.
15Forhe shall begreatin the sight ofthe Lord, andshall drinkneitherwinenorstrong drink; andhe shall be filledwiththe HolyGhost, evenfromhismother'swomb.
16Andmanyof the childrenof Israelshall he turntothe LordtheirGod.
17Andheshall gobeforehiminthe spiritandpowerof Elias, to turnthe heartsof the fatherstothe children, andthe disobedienttothe wisdomof the just; to make readya peoplepreparedfor the Lord.
18AndZachariassaiduntothe angel, Wherebyshall I knowthis? forIaman old man, andmywifewell strickeninyears.
35Andthe angelansweredand saidunto her, The HolyGhostshall comeuponthee, andthe powerof the Highestshall overshadowthee: thereforealsothat holy thingwhich shall be born of theeshall be calledthe Sonof God.
36And, behold, thycousinElisabeth, shehathalsoconceiveda soninherold age: andthisisthe sixthmonthwith her, who was calledbarren.