Luke 1:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

NIV: And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

NASB: And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.

CSB: At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

NLT: While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

KJV: And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

NKJV: And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

Exodus 30:1–8 describes God's instructions for offering incense, twice a day, using a purpose-built altar. This object was placed inside the Holy Place of the temple (Exodus 40:26–27). The honor associated with this sacrifice apparently led Israel to a system of chance: casting lots to see which priest would perform that ritual. Given that the rite was only performed twice a day, it's conceivable an individual priest might only participate once, if at all, in his lifetime. Zechariah is an aging, childless priest, known for his godly life and the similar character of his wife, Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–7). It is his opportunity to offer incense in one of these moments (Luke 1:9).

To make this offering, Zechariah would have been alone, in between curtains separating the courtyard from the Holy Place, and the inner curtain which covered the Most Holy Place. As he burnt the incense, the people would be outside, in the courtyard, praying. While he executes this rite, perhaps for the only time, Zechariah will be visited by an angelic messenger (Luke 1:11).

Luke 1:5–25 explains how Elizabeth, the childless wife of a priest, learns that she will give birth to a prophet. This child will eventually be known as John the Baptist. Her husband, Zechariah, learns this from an angel but doubts due to his advanced age. As a result, he is rendered temporarily mute, and likely deaf as well (Luke 1:62). As predicted, he and Elizabeth conceive and await the birth of their son. This occurs several months before Elizabeth's relative, Mary, receives even more amazing news from an angel.

The angel Gabriel predicts two miraculous births. The first is a son born to Zechariah and Elizabeth: an older, childless priest and his wife. Because Zechariah initially doubts this message, he is temporarily made unable to speak. Their child will be known as John the Baptist, a powerful herald of the Messiah. The Promised One whom John will proclaim is the second birth predicted by Gabriel. He tells an engaged virgin, Mary, that God will miraculously conceive His Son in her. The two women meet and rejoice over their blessings. John's arrival sets the stage for Luke's familiar account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Luke was a travelling companion of the apostle Paul (Acts 16:10); his book of Acts is a direct "sequel" to the gospel of Luke (Acts 1:1–3). Those two books make up more than a quarter of the New Testament. Luke begins by explaining how his orderly approach is meant to inspire confidence in Christian faith. His work is based on eyewitness interviews and other evidence. The first chapter details the miraculous conceptions of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Chapter 2 continues with Jesus' birth.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 5/3/2024 3:52:25 AM