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11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor [a]strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. 17 And he shall [b]go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. 18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife [c]well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. 20 And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:15 Greek sikera.
  2. Luke 1:17 Some ancient authorities read come nigh before his face.
  3. Luke 1:18 Greek advanced in her days.

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. 17 And he will go on before the Lord,(J) in the spirit and power of Elijah,(K) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children(L) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(M)

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this?(N) I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”(O)

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.(P) I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak(Q) until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

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