Luke 1:16-25

¹⁶He will turn many Israelites back to the Lord their God.

¹⁷He will go ahead of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the fathers back to thinking about their children, and to turn those who are rebellious back to a right understanding—to prepare a people ready for the Lord.”

¹⁸“How can I be sure about this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I'm an old man, and my wife is getting old too.”

¹⁹“I am Gabriel,” the angel replied. “I stand in God's presence, and I was sent to speak to you and give you this good news.

²⁰But since you didn't believe what I told you, you'll become dumb, unable to speak, until the appointed time when my words come true.”

²¹Outside the people were waiting for Zechariah, wondering why he was taking so long in the Temple.

²²When eventually he came out, he wasn't able to speak to them. They realized he'd seen a vision in the Temple, for though he could make gestures, he was completely dumb.

²³After he'd finished his time of service, he went back home.

²⁴Some time later his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.

²⁵“The Lord has done this for me,” she said, “now that he's taken away my disgrace in the eyes of others.”