Luke 1:8-20

⁸Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division.

⁹According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.

¹⁰The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.

¹¹Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar.

¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and fear fell on him.

¹³But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.

¹⁴You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.

¹⁶Many of the people of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God.

¹⁷He will go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

¹⁸Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is very old.”

¹⁹The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news.

²⁰Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time.”