Luke 1:17–25

¹⁷And he will go before Him

in the spirit and power of Elijah,

to turn the hearts of fathers

to their children, ^f

and the disobedient

to the understanding of the righteous,

to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. ^g

¹⁸“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” ^h

¹⁹The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, ⁱwho stands in the presence of God, ^jand I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. ²⁰Now listen! You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

²¹Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. ²²When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them ^kand remained speechless. ²³When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

²⁴After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, ²⁵“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace ^lamong the people.”