1 Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have reached their fulfilment among us,Ģ as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,ģ I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus,Ĥ so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received.ĥ In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron.Ħ Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out all the commandments and observances of the Lord.ħ But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years.Ĩ Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before Godĩ when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord's sanctuary and burn incense there.ġ0 And at the hour of incense all the people were outside, praying.ġ1 Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense.ġ2 The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear.ġ3 But the angel said to him, 'Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard.