Luke 1:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

NIV: Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

NASB: Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

CSB: When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

NLT: One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.

KJV: And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

NKJV: So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,

Only one family line could serve as priests under the Old Testament law. These were members of the tribe of Levi, through the line of Aaron (1 Chronicles 24). Aaron's descendants were grouped into 24 "divisions," who rotated duties in the temple throughout the year. Luke is describing the situation of one such priest, Zechariah, who has been unable to have children with his wife, Elizabeth, despite being known for their God-honoring lives (Luke 1:6). As they age, hope of having children has faded (Luke 1:7). Fortunately for these two, God has a plan which involves blessing their home with a child.

Good news will come to Zechariah while his division is actively serving in the temple. The timing will be incredible, as Zechariah will encounter an angel during his assigned duties. With a relatively large number of priests, and a limited number of explicit duties, it's likely not every priest performed every function. Lots—items like dice or dominoes—were used for this very reason: as an impartial way of assigning those tasks. In fact, some scholars suggest this could have been the first time, and only time, that Zechariah had the opportunity to perform the ritual offering of incense (Luke 1:9).

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.