The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Luke 1:5-25

5. During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron.
6. They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
7. But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.
8. Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,
9. according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11. While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.
12. And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear.

13. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.
14. Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth
15. for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
16. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
17. And he will go as forerunner before the Lord 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. He will prepare the people for their Lord."

18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

19. The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20. And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place."

21. Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.
22. When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.
23. He stayed at the Temple until his term of service was over, and then he went home.
24. After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,
25. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”