New Testament · Gospel

Luke 1:8

The Careful Account

One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, Luke 1:8 · Berean Standard Bible

What It Means

Luke 1:8, in plain English

One day, when it was his priestly group's turn to serve, Zechariah was on duty before God in the temple.

Why it's here

With so many priests, getting to serve in the temple was rare. This was a special day for Zechariah, and it was about to become the most extraordinary day of his life.

Who's speaking

Luke describes Zechariah's turn for temple service.

Where it sits in the story

Just another day at work for an old priest. Or so he thought. God had been planning this moment for longer than Zechariah could imagine.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

While Zechariah's division is en te taxei (in the order/on duty), he serves as priest enanti tou Theou (before God) in the temple.

Language and setting

Each priestly division served in the temple twice a year for one week. With approximately 18,000 priests divided into 24 courses, individual temple service was rare and significant.

Voice

The narrator sets the scene for Zechariah's temple service.

Significance

Luke carefully sets up the circumstances that will bring Zechariah face to face with an angel, beginning with his routine priestly rotation in the Jerusalem temple.

In context

Luke 1:6–10

6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

8One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

Read all of Luke 1 — A physician writes the most detailed account of Jesus' life. Luke notices the people others overlook — the poor, the outcast, the women, the forgotten.

Understand every verse, not just this one

This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.

Get BibleKey

Understand every verse.

Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone & iPad