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

⁵ In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. ⁷ And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren. And both were advanced in their days.

⁸ And it happened in his serving in the order of his course, before God, ⁹ according to the custom of the priests, it was his lot to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense. ¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him as he was standing on the right of the altar of incense. ¹² And seeing this, Zacharias was troubled, and fear fell on him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, Do not fear, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶ And he shall turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

¹⁸ And Zacharias said to the angel, By what shall I know this? For I am old, and my wife is advanced in her days.

¹⁹ And answering, the angel said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands before God. And I am sent to speak to you and to show you these glad tidings. ²⁰ And behold, you shall be silent and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their time.

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias and marveled that he stayed so long in the temple. ²² And when he came out, he could not speak to them. And they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and remained speechless. ²³ And as soon as the days of his service were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months, saying, ²⁵ So the Lord has dealt with me in the days in which He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.