Luke 1:18-30

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.”

²⁶In the sixth month of her pregnancy God sent the angel Gabriel to a young girl called Mary who lived in the town of Nazareth in Galilee.

²⁷She was engaged to a man named Joseph.

²⁸The angel greeted her. “You are very privileged,” he told her. “The Lord is with you.”

²⁹Mary was very puzzled at what he said, and wondered what this greeting meant.

³⁰“Don't worry, Mary,” the angel went on, “for God has shown his graciousness to you.