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LUKE
Luke's purpose
the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn Many people have already applied them the hearts of fathers back to their children, I selves to the task of compiling an account and he will turn the disobedient to righteous of the events that have been fulfilled among patterns of thinking. He will make ready a us. ?They used what the original eyewit- people prepared for the Lord." nesses and servants of the word handed 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I down to us. Now, after having investi- be sure of this? My wife and I are very old." gated everything carefully from the begin- 'The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand ning, I have also decided to write a carefully in God's presence. I was sent to speak to you ordered account for you, most honorable and to bring this good news to you. 20 Know Theophilus. “I want you to have confidence this: What I have spoken will come true at in the soundness of the instruction you the proper time. But because you didn't behave received.
lieve, you will remain silent, unable to speak
until the day when these things happen." John the Baptist's birth foretold
2Meanwhile, the people were waiting During the rule of King Herod of Judea for Zechariah, and they wondered why he there was a priest named Zechariah who was in the sanctuary for such a long time. belonged to the priestly division of Abi- 22When he came out, he was unable to speak jah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant to them. They realized he had seen a vision of Aaron. They were both righteous before in the temple, for he gestured to them and God, blameless in their observance of all couldn't speak. 23When he completed the the Lord's commandments and regulations. days of his priestly service, he returned 7 They had no children because Elizabeth home. 24 Afterward, his wife Elizabeth bewas unable to become pregnant and they came pregnant. She kept to herself for five both were very old. One day Zechariah months, saying, 25“This is the Lord's doing. was serving as a priest before God because He has shown his favor to me by removing his priestly division was on duty. 'Follow- my disgrace among other people." ing the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord's sanc- Jesus' birth foretold tuary and burn incense. All the people 26When Elizabeth was six months pregwho gathered to worship were praying out- nant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazaside during this hour of incense offering. reth, a city in Galilee, ??to a virgin who was "An angel from the Lord appeared to him, engaged to a man named Joseph, a descenstanding to the right of the altar of incense. dant of David's house. The virgin's name 12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was was Mary. 28When the angel came to her, startled and overcome with fear.
he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is 13 The angel said, “Don't be afraid, Zecha- with you!" 29She was confused by these riah. Your prayers have been heard. Your words and wondered what kind of greeting wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don't be and you must name him John. "He will be a afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 3'Look! joy and delight to you, and many people will You will conceive and give birth to a son, rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be the Lord's eyes. He must not drink wine and great and he will be called the Son of the liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit Most High. The Lord God will give him the even before his birth. He will bring many throne of David his father. 33 He will rule
Israelites back to the Lord their God. He over Jacob's house forever, and there will : will go forth before the Lord, equipped with be no end to his kingdom.”
o Or parents
