In the days of King Herod, of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias of the "Abijah" division. He had a wife named Elizabeth who was a descendant of Aaron.

Now it happened that when Zacharias' turn came in his division,

Zacharias became disturbed when he saw the angel and was gripped by fear.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid Zacharias, for your earnest prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son and you will name him John.

And Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is [also] very old."

Now the people who waited [outside] for Zacharias were very surprised that he was staying in the Temple so long.

[Upon arriving] she entered the home of Zacharias and greeted [his wife] Elizabeth.

And it happened on the eighth day [i.e., since the baby was born] that they came to circumcise the child [i.e., to perform the Jewish rite of identity, signifying the responsibility to observe the law of Moses]. And they [i.e., probably the neighbors and/or relatives of Elizabeth and Zacharias] suggested that they name him Zacharias, after his father.

Then Zacharias asked for a writing tablet and wrote [the words] "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

Then his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

[During this time], while Annas and Caiaphas [Note: This man was Annas' son-in-law. See John 18:13] were head priests, God's message came to John [the Immerser], son of Zacharias, [when he was] in the desert [of Judea].