Luke 1:6-20

6They were both 1righteous in the sight of God, walking 2blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7And yet they had no child, because Elizabeth was infertile, and they were both advanced in 3years.

8Now it happened that while 4he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot 5to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer 6outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11Now 7an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12Zechariah was troubled when he saw the angel, and 8fear 9gripped him. 13But the angel said to him, “10Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and 11you shall 12name him John. 14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth. 15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will 13drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit 14while still in his mother’s womb. 16And he will 15turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17And it is he who will 16go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of 17Elijah, 18to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to 19make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this? For 20I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her 21years.” 19The angel answered and said to him, “I am 22Gabriel, who 2324stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”