1* Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.* 2He is able to deal patiently* with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness 3and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.a 4No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.b
Announcement of the Birth of John. 5In the days of Herod, King of Judea,* there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.c 6Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. 7But they had no child,* because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years.d 8Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God, 9according to the practice of the priestly service, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense.e 10Then, when the whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering,