Bible Strands
Luke 1:5
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Luke opens his historical narrative to establish the timeline for his reader, placing the account during the reign of Herod king of Judea.
The words — Ἐγένετο (Egeneto) literally means “there was,” functioning as the narrative marker that introduces Zechariah into the historical record.
The thread — The reference to Herod’s reign parallels Matthew 2:1, while the priestly division of Abijah and Aaronite lineage trace back to the service orders recorded in 1 Chronicles 24:10 and 24:19.
Why it lands — The text explicitly identifies Zechariah’s lineage and era before attributing righteousness to him, requiring the reader to verify the historical and genealogical foundations of the narrative.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 24:10 the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,
- Matthew 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
- 1 Chronicles 24:19 This was their appointed order for service when they entered the house of the LORD, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their forefather Aaron, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
- Nehemiah 12:4 Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,
- Nehemiah 12:17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai;