Now it came to pass, that, while he was doing priestly service in the order of his course before God, it fell to his lot, according to the custom of the priest's office, having gone into the temple of the Lord, to offer incense; read more. and all the multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of the incense-offering. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zacharias, seeing him, was troubled; and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Fear not, Zacharias; because your supplication was heard; and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth; for he will be great before the Lord; and he will drink no wine nor strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And many of the sons of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. And Zacharias said to the angel, "By what shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in her days." And the angel, answering, said to him, "I am Gabriel, who have been standing near before God, and I was sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these glad tidings to you. And, behold, you shall be silent, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass; because you did not believe my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary. read more. And, the angel, coming in to her, said, "Hail, highly favored one, the Lord is with you." But she was troubled at the saying, and was deliberating as to what kind of salutation this might be. And the angel said to her, "Fear not, Mary; for you found favor from God. And, behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David; and He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I know not a man?" And the angel, answering, said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; wherefore also the Holy Thing that is begotten shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, Elizabeth, your kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren; because no word from God shall be without power." And Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; may it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.