Luke 1:5-12
The first event recorded in Luke’s Gospel, is the sudden appearance of an angel to a Jewish priest, named Zacharias. The angel announces to him that a son is about to be born to him, by a miraculous interposition, and that this son is to be the forerunner of the long-promised Messiah. The word of God had plainly foretold that when the Messiah came, some one would go before Him to prepare His way. (Malachi 3:1) The wisdom of God provided that when this forerunner appeared, he should be born in the family of a priest.