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)

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,^(A) in the spirit and power of Elijah,^(B) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children^(C) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”^(D)

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

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.^(G) 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^(H) until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

⁶² Then they made signs^(A) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”^{(B) 64} Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,^(C) praising God.