and sitteth on the right hand of God.

16:20. But they going forth preached every where: the Lord working
withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE

St. Luke was a native of Antioch, the capital of Syria. He was by
profession a physician; and some ancient writers say, that he was very
skillful in painting. He was converted by St. Paul and became his
disciple and companion in his travels, and fellow-labourer in the
ministry of the Gospel. He wrote in Greek, about twenty-four years after
our Lord's Ascension.

Luke Chapter 1

The conception of John the Baptist, and of Christ. The visitation and
canticle of the Blessed Virgin. The birth of the Baptist and the
canticle of Zachary.

1:1. Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
narration of the things that have been accomplished among us,

1:2. According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the
beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:

1:3. It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things
from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent
Theophilus,

1:4. That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast
been instructed.

1:5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest
named Zachary, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters
of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

Of the course of Abia... that is, of the rank of Abia, which word in the
Greek is commonly put for the employment of one day: but here for the
functions of a whole week. For, by the appointment of David, 1 Par. 24.,
the descendants from Aaron were divided into twenty-four families, of
which the eighth was Abia, from whom descended this Zachary, who at this
time was in the week of his priestly functions.

1:6. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments
and justifications of the Lord without blame.

1:7. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren: and they both
were well advanced in years.

1:8. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the
order of his course before God,

1:9. According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to
offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.

1:10. And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the
hour of incense.

1:11. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, stand