21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signsf to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgraceg among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabrielh to Nazareth,i a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,j a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,k Mary; you have found favor with God.l 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.m 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.n The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,o 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdomp will never end.”q

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,r and the power of the Most Highs will overshadow you. So the holy onet to be born will be calledb the Son of God.u 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a childv in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”w

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.