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.