Hi friends. I'm Annie F. Downs. Let's read the Gospels. The Gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are the stories of Jesus Christ's life on earth, the friendships, the parables, the sacrifices, the meals, the miracles. So here is how it works. I'll read three chapters to you. You can listen or read along in your own Bible or online, and then I'll pray. And that's it. So today is day 16, and I'll be reading

Luke chapter 1 through 3. And this month I'm reading from the CSB version.

Luke 1

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us,

just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us.

So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first

to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable theophilus,

so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah's division named Zachariah.

His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Both were righteous in God's sight, living without blame according to all the

commands and requirements of the Lord. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive,

and both of them were well along in years. When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest

before God, it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood,

to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary

of the Lord and burn incense. At the hour of incense, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him,

he was terrified and overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your

prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great

in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit

while still in his mother's

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