(Luke 1:5-20)
5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest
named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;
his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both
of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s
commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7But they had
no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well
along in years.
8Once
when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest
before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the
custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and
burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of
incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing
at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When
Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah;
your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will
be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his
birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.
He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be
filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16Many of
the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their
children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to
make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of
this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the
presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell
you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and
not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not
believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
