Luke 1:3-17

MSTC^{(i) 3} I determined also, as soon as I had searched out diligently all things from the beginning, that then I would write unto thee, good Theophilus, ⁴ that thou mightest know the certainty of those things, whereof thou art informed. ⁵ In the time of Herod, the king of Jewry, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron: And her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ Both were perfect before God, and walked in all the laws and ordinances of the Lord, that no man could find fault with them. ⁷ And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren; And both were well stricken in age. ⁸ And it came to pass, as he executed the priest's office before God as his course came, ⁹ according to the custom of the priest's office his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord, ¹⁰ and the whole multitude of the people were without, in their prayers, while the incense was a burning. ¹¹ And there appeared unto him, an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was abashed, and fear came on him. ¹³ And the angel said unto him, "Fear not Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard: And thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John: ¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness: And many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the holy ghost, even in his mother's womb: ¹⁶ and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to their Lord God. ¹⁷ And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the unbelievers to the wisdom of the just men: to make the people ready for the Lord."