Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible

Good News Translation

Luke 1:8

One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Barrenness;   Elisabeth (Elizabeth);   Joy;   Priest;   Temple;   Zacharias (Zechariah);  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Elisabeth;   John;   Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - John the baptist;   Priest;   Temple;   Zechariah;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jerusalem;   John the Baptist;   Miracle;   Priest, Priesthood;   Vision(s);   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Angel;   Union Hypostatical;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Hail!;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Juttah;   Luke, the Gospel According to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Gabriel;   Incense;   Jesus, Life and Ministry of;   John;   Luke, Gospel of;   Mother;   Resurrection of Jesus Christ;   Zacharias;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gabriel;   Incense;   John the Baptist;   Priest;   Vision;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Acts of the Apostles (2);   Chief Priests ;   Deaf and Dumb;   Lots ;   Priest (2);   Zacharias ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Elisabeth ;   1910 New Catholic Dictionary - parable of the pharisee and the publican;   pharisee and publican;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Theophilus;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Elisabeth;   Incense;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - John the Baptist;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - John, the Baptize;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Course;   Division;   Office;   Order;   Priesthood in the New Testament;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - John the Baptist;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe, that while he executed the Priests office before God in the order of his course,
King James Version
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
English Standard Version
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
New American Standard Bible
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
New Century Version
One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his group was on duty.
Amplified Bible
Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,
Legacy Standard Bible
Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the order of his division,
Berean Standard Bible
One day while Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
Contemporary English Version
One day Zechariah's group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God as a priest.
Complete Jewish Bible
One time, when Z'kharyah was fulfilling his duties as cohen during his division's period of service before God,
Darby Translation
And it came to pass, as he fulfilled his priestly service before God in the order of his course,
Easy-to-Read Version
Zechariah was serving as a priest before God for his group. It was his group's time to serve.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And it came to passe, as he executed the Priestes office before God, as his course came in order,
George Lamsa Translation
And it happened, while he was ministering in the order of his ministry before God,
Lexham English Bible
And it happened that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
Literal Translation
And it happened in his serving as priest in the order of his course before God,
American Standard Version
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
Bible in Basic English
Now it came about that in his turn he was acting as priest before God,
Hebrew Names Version
Now it happened, while he executed the Kohen's office before God in the order of his division,
International Standard Version
When Zechariahhe
">[fn] was serving with his division of priests in God's presence,1 Chronicles 24:19; 2 Chronicles 8:14; 31:2;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But it was while he was acting-as-priest in the order of his ministry before Aloha,
Murdock Translation
And it occurred, that as he performed the priestly functions in the order of his ministration before the Lord,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And it came to passe, that when Zacharie executed the priestes office before God, as his course came,
English Revised Version
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
World English Bible
Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And while he executed the priest's office before God,
Weymouth's New Testament
Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it bifel, that whanne Zacarie schulde do the office of preesthod, in the ordre of his cours tofor God,
Update Bible Version
Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priests' office before God in the order of his course,
New English Translation
Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
New King James Version
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
New Living Translation
One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week.
New Life Bible
Zacharias was doing his work as a religious leader for God.
New Revised Standard
Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course, before God,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,
Revised Standard Version
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And it cam to passe as he executed the prestes office before god as his course came
Young's Literal Translation
And it came to pass, in his acting as priest, in the order of his course before God,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And it came to passe as he executed the prestes office before God whan his course came
Mace New Testament (1729)
now Zachary was to officiate in divine service, in the order of his family,
THE MESSAGE
It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Zechariah was serving as the preacher for his group because it was their time to serve.

Contextual Overview

5 During the time when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife's name was Elizabeth; she also belonged to a priestly family. 6 They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth could not have any, and she and Zechariah were both very old. 8 One day Zechariah was doing his work as a priest in the Temple, taking his turn in the daily service. 9 According to the custom followed by the priests, he was chosen by lot to burn incense on the altar. So he went into the Temple of the Lord, 10 while the crowd of people outside prayed during the hour when the incense was burned. 11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar where the incense was burned. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was alarmed and felt afraid. 13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You are to name him John. 14 How glad and happy you will be, and how happy many others will be when he is born!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he: Exodus 28:1, Exodus 28:41, Exodus 29:1, Exodus 29:9, Exodus 29:44, Exodus 30:30, Numbers 18:7, 1 Chronicles 24:2, 2 Chronicles 11:14

in: Luke 1:5, 1 Chronicles 24:19, 2 Chronicles 8:14, 2 Chronicles 31:2, 2 Chronicles 31:19, Ezra 6:18

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:5 - that enter 2 Chronicles 23:4 - entering Hebrews 9:6 - the priests

Cross-References

Genesis 1:5
and he named the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Evening passed and morning came—that was the first day.
Genesis 1:10
He named the land "Earth," and the water which had come together he named "Sea." And God was pleased with what he saw.
Genesis 1:13
Evening passed and morning came—that was the third day.
Genesis 1:19
Evening passed and morning came—that was the fourth day.
Genesis 1:23
Evening passed and morning came—that was the fifth day.
Genesis 1:31
God looked at everything he had made, and he was very pleased. Evening passed and morning came—that was the sixth day.
Genesis 5:2
He created them male and female, blessed them, and named them "Human Beings.")

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office,.... To which he was called and ordained, even to offer gifts and sacrifices for men; whilst he was in the way of his duty, when oftentimes God appears to, and in favour of his people; whilst he was performing it,

before God; in the temple, where was the symbol of the divine presence, before the altar of the Lord; and as having the fear of God before his eyes; considering himself as in the sight of God, and doing his work faithfully and sincerely:

in the order of his course; taking his turn in the order of the course of Abia, to which he belonged; :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Before God - In the temple, where God dwelt by the symbols of His presence. The temple was regarded by the Jews as the “house” or dwelling of God; and in the “first” temple there was, in the most holy place, a “cloud” called the Shechinah, or a visible sign of the presence of God. It was thus “before God” that Zechariah offered incense.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 1:8. Before God — In the temple, where God used to manifest his presence, though long before this time he had forsaken it; yet, on this important occasion, the angel of his presence had visited it.


 
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