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In
the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named
Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his
wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were
upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments
and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because
Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
Once
when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest
before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the
priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the
assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right
side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was
startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your
wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the
name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will
rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of
the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and
he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of
the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And
he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.”
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an
old man and my wife is well along in years.”
The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of
God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this
good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until
the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which
will come true at their proper time.”
Meanwhile,
the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed
so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to
them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he
kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
When
his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this
his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in
seclusion.
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