The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the time of Herod king of Judea(A) there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;(B) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.(C) But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

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11 Then an angel(A) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.(B) 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.(C) 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,(D) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.(E) 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,(F) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,(G) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit(H) even before he is born.(I) 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

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24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace(A) among the people.”

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