1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us,
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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.
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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,
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so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 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.
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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
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But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
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Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
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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.