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

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ And they were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. ⁷ And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both far advanced in years.

⁸ And it came to pass, that, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his course, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood the lot fell to him to go into the temple of the Lord and burn the incense. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying without at the time of the incense. ¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. ¹² And Zachariah was troubled at the sight, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah; for thy prayer was heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name John. ¹⁴ And thou wilt have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice for his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and will drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his very birth. ¹⁶ And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.

¹⁸ And Zachariah said to the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years.

¹⁹ And the angel answering said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to thee, and to tell thee these glad tidings. ²⁰ And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak, until the day when these things shall come to pass, because thou didst not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their season.

²¹ And the people were looking for Zachariah, and wondering that he remained so long in the temple. ²² And on coming out, he was not able to speak to them; and they perceived 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 ministration were completed, that he returned to his house.

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