5 In the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, 1 of the daily service (the division) of Abia; and his wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were 2 far advanced in years.
8 Now while on duty, serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9 As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter [the 3 sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And all the throng of people were praying outside [in the court] at the hour of incense [burning]. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him. 13 But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition 4 was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John [God is favorable]. 14 And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will rejoice over his birth, 15 For he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even 5 in and from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is 6 the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]--in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, 7 adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].
18 And Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. 19 And the angel replied to him, I am Gabriel. I stand in the [very] presence of God, and I have been sent to talk to you and to bring you this good news. 20 Now behold, you will be and 8 will continue to be silent and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are 8 of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time. 21 Now the people kept waiting for Zachariah, and they wondered at his delaying [so long] in the 10 sanctuary. 22 But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them; and they [ 11 clearly] perceived that he had seen a vision in the 12 sanctuary; and he kept making signs to them, still he remained dumb. 23 And when his time of performing priestly functions was ended, he returned to his [own] house.
24 Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself 13 entirely, saying, [I have hid myself] 25 14 Because thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He deigned to look on me to take away my reproach among men.