Investigate

     Luke was a doctor.  He was an educated man, so he knew better to take the word of one person or to listen to rumors.  He spent time (years) investigating the truth of Jesus' life.  He only recorded the truth in which was collaborated or that he himself witnessed.  He is a good teacher for us to learn from in how to investigate the Bible and to figure out what you believe for yourself.  We need to know where we stand and not just follow a pastor, parent, or the crowd.
     Luke began with the priest Zechariah and his wife. Elizabeth.  He gave them their heritage and respectability before he went into how God chose to communicate with them.  Zechariah was in the the most Holy place when the angel, Gabriel, spoke to him.  The angel told Zechariah that he would have a son to be named John and that he was to live a pure life with no alcohol because he was going to be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth.  That was historic.  John would have the power of Elijah, so that is why he was always compared to the prophet of the past.  He would lead the people to understand righteousness.
     This was a lot for any person to take in.  God had not spoken to His people in about 400 years.  Zechariah must have been in shock.  His human response was to doubt.  I think Gabriel made Zechariah mute until John's birth, so that other people would not doubt or to have the message distorted.  Elizabeth who had been barren was just happy to have God's mercy.  God had taken her disgrace from her.  Back then, if a woman did not have a child people assumed that God was punishing them for something.

Luke 1: 1-25