Luke 1:21–37

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.”

Gabriel Predicts Jesus’ Birth

²⁶In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel ^mwas sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ⁿ²⁷to a virgin engaged ^oto a man named Joseph, of the house of David. ^pThe virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” ^q29But she was deeply troubled ^rby this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰Then the angel told her:

Do not be afraid, Mary, ^s

for you have found favor with God. ^t

³¹Now listen:

You will conceive and give birth to a son,

and you will call His name Jesus. ^u

³²He will be great

and will be called the Son of the Most High, ^v

and the Lord God will give Him

the throne of His father David. ^w

³³He will reign over the house of Jacob ^xforever,

and His kingdom will have no end. ^y

³⁴Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” ^z

³⁵The angel replied to her:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, ^a

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore, the holy One to be born

will be called the Son of God. ^b

³⁶And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ^c