New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us.
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Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
2 They have written the same things that we learned from others -- the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message.
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just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
3 Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellentn Theophilus, it seemed good for me to write it out for you. I arranged it in order
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With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
4 to help you know that what you have been taught is true.
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so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
5 During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah's group. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, came from the family of Aaron.
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In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
6 Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law.
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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.
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But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his group was on duty.
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Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
9 According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.
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he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 There were a great many people outside praying at the time the incense was offered.
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And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.