And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Parallel translations
- WEB The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
- BSB And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.
- NKJV And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
- NASB And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering.
- NLT While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A large crowd was praying outside while the incense was offered. The whole community was joined in worship at that hour.
Overview
The hour of incense was a time of corporate prayer, the people gathered outside as the priest ministered within. This prayerful setting frames the angelic visit that follows. It pictures the longing of God's people, soon to be answered in the coming of John and ultimately of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Lev 16:17And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.
- Rev 8:3And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
- Heb 9:24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
- Heb 4:14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 1:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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