Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

1:5 During the reign15 of Herod16 king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to17 the priestly division of Abijah,18 and he had a wife named Elizabeth,19 who was a descendant of Aaron.20 1:6 They21 were both righteous in the sight of God, following22 all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.23 1:7 But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren,24 and they were both very old.25

1:8 Now26 while Zechariah27 was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,28 1:9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood,29 to enter30 the holy place31 of the Lord and burn incense. 1:10 Now32 the whole crowd33 of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.34 1:11 An35 angel of the Lord,36 standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared37 to him. 1:12 And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel,38 was seized with fear.39 1:13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard,40 and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you41 will name him John.42 1:14 Joy and gladness will come43 to you, and many will rejoice at44 his birth,45 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of46 the Lord. He47 must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.48 1:16 He49 will turn50 many of the people51 of Israel to the Lord their God. 1:17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lord52 in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,53 to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

1:18 Zechariah54 said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this?55 For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.”56 1:19 The57 angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands58 in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring59 you this good news. 1:20 And now,60 because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time,61 you will be silent, unable to speak,62 until the day these things take place.”

1:21 Now63 the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder64 why he was delayed in the holy place.65 1:22 When66 he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They67 realized that he had seen a vision68 in the holy place,69 because70 he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.71 1:23 When his time of service was over,72 he went to his home.

1:24 After some time73 his wife Elizabeth became pregnant,74 and for five months she kept herself in seclusion.75 She said,76 1:25 “This is what77 the Lord has done for me at the time78 when he has been gracious to me,79 to take away my disgrace80 among people.”81