Luke 1:7-20

English Standard Version

⁷ But they had no child, because ^(A)Elizabeth was barren, and ^(B)both were advanced in years.

⁸ Now ^(C)while he was serving as priest before God when ^(D)his division was on duty, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot ^(E)to enter ^(F)the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people ^(G)were praying ^(H)outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of ^(I)the altar of incense. ¹² And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and ^(J)fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for ^(K)your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and ^(L)you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will ^(M)rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be ^(N)great before the Lord. And ^(O)he must not drink wine or strong ^(P)drink, and ^(Q)he will be ^(R)filled with the Holy Spirit, ^(S)even from his mother's womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ and ^(T)he will go before him ^(U)in the spirit and power of Elijah, ^(V)to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and ^(W)the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, ^(X)to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, ^(Y)“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered him, “I am ^(Z)Gabriel. ^(AA)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ And behold, ^(AB)you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”