Luke 1:5-36

5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s division named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

6Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.

7But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.

8When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

9it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

10At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.

11An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.

12When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.

13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

14There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

16He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”

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

19The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and 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 was making signs to them and 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 among the people.”

26In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

27to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”

29But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

30Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.

32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

34Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

35The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

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.