Luke 1:5-25 - The Prediction Of John The Baptist's Birth

⁵ It came to pass in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zacharias, from the division of Abijah, and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, going in all the commandments and righteous things of the Lord blameless. ⁷ And there was no child to them because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days.

⁸ But it came to pass during his service as a priest in the course of his division in the presence of God, ⁹ that, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to burn incense after entering into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ And an agent of Lord became visible to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And Zacharias having seen, was shaken, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the agent said to him, Fear not, Zacharias, because thy plea was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth will bear a son for thee. And thou shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And there will be joy and exultation for thee, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he should, no, not drink wine and strong drink. And he will be filled of Holy Spirit, even from his mother's belly. ¹⁶ And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go ahead, in front of him, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of fathers toward children, and the disobedient in a mentality of the righteous, to make ready for Lord a people prepared.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the agent, How will I know this? For I am aged, and my wife is advanced in her days.

¹⁹ And having answered, the agent said to him, I am Gabriel who stand in the presence of God. And I was sent to speak to thee, and to announce these good news to thee. ²⁰ And behold, thou will be mute, and not able to speak until that day these things will come to pass, because thou did not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.

²¹ And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they wondered during his delay in the temple. ²² And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they recognized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was beckoning to them, and remained speechless. ²³ And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

²⁴ And after these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she concealed herself five months, saying, ²⁵ Thus the Lord has done to me during the days in which he looked, to take away my shame among men.