In [a]the [b]time of [c]Herod King of Judea, there was a certain Priest named Zacharias, of the (A)[d]course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Both were [e]just before God, and [f]walked in all the [g]commandments and ordinances of the Lord, [h]without reproof.

And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren: and both were well stricken in age.

And it came to pass, as he executed the Priest’s office before God, as his course came in order,

(B)According to the custom of the Priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense, when he went into the [i]Temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were without in prayer, (C)while the incense was burning.

11 Then appeared unto him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the Altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But 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 [j]sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine, nor [k]strong drink: and he shall be filled with the holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16 (D)And many of the children of Israel shall he [l]turn to their Lord God.

17 (E)For he shall go [m]before him [n]in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the [o]hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the [p]wisdom of the just men, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18 Then Zacharias said unto the Angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.

19 And the Angel answered, and said unto him, I am Gabriel [q]that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these good tidings.

20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not be able to speak, until the day that these things be done, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21 Now the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the Temple.

22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: then they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple: for he made signs unto them, and remained dumb.

23 And it came to pass, when the days of his office were fulfilled, that he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, in the days wherein he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among men.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:5 John who was another Elijah, and appointed to be herald of Christ, coming of the stock of Aaron, and of two famous and blameless parents, hath showed in his conception, which was against the course of nature, a double miracle, to the end that men should be more readily stirred up to the hearing of his preaching, according to the forewarning of the Prophets.
  2. Luke 1:5 Word for word, in the days: so speak the Hebrews, giving us to understand, how short and frail a thing the power of princes is.
  3. Luke 1:5 Herod the great.
  4. Luke 1:5 For the posterity of Aaron was divided into courses.
  5. Luke 1:6 The true mark of righteousness is, to be liked and allowed of in the judgment of God.
  6. Luke 1:6 Lived, so speak the Hebrews, for our life is as a way, wherein we must walk, until we come to the mark.
  7. Luke 1:6 In all the moral and ceremonial law.
  8. Luke 1:6 Whom no man could justly reprove: now so it is, that the fruits of justification are set forth here, and not the cause, which is faith only, and nothing else.
  9. Luke 1:9 The Temple was one, and the Court another, for Zacharias went out of the Court or outward room, where all the people were, and therefore are said to be without, into the temple.
  10. Luke 1:15 So speak the Hebrews when it signified a rare kind of excellency: so is it said of Nimrod, Gen. 10:9. He was a valiant hunter before God.
  11. Luke 1:15 Any drink that may make drunken.
  12. Luke 1:16 Shall be a means to bring many to repentance, and turn themselves to the Lord from whom they fell.
  13. Luke 1:17 As they used to go before kings, and when you see them, you know the king is not far off.
  14. Luke 1:17 This is spoken by the figure Metonymy, taking the spirit, for the gift of the spirit, as you would say, the cause, for that that cometh of the cause.
  15. Luke 1:17 By this figure Synecdoche, he showeth that he shall take away all kinds of enmities, which used to breed great troubles and turmoils amongst men.
  16. Luke 1:17 Wisdom and goodness are two of the chiefest causes which make men to reverence and honor their fathers.
  17. Luke 1:19 That appears, for so the Hebrews use this word (to stand) meaning that they are ready to do his commandment.

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