Luke 1:8-19

English Standard Version

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

¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, ^(W)“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 ^(X)Gabriel. ^(Y)I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.