acSee Matt. 11:14
Luke 1:4-22
4that you may have acertainty concerning the things byou have been taught.Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
5 cIn the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, ▼▼Greek Zacharias
eof fthe division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both grighteous before God, walking hblamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because iElizabeth was barren, and jboth were advanced in years. 8Now kwhile he was serving as priest before God when lhis division was on duty, 9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot mto enter nthe temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole multitude of the people owere praying poutside at the hour of incense. 11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of qthe altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and rfear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for syour prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and tyou shall call his name John. 14And you will have joy and gladness, and many will urejoice at his birth, 15for he will be vgreat before the Lord. And whe must not drink wine or strong xdrink, and yhe will be zfilled with the Holy Spirit, aaeven from his mother’s womb. 16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17and abhe will go before him acin the spirit and power of Elijah, adto turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and aethe disobedient to the wisdom of the just, afto make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18And Zechariah said to the angel, ag“How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19And the angel answered him, “I am ahGabriel. aiI stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, ajyou 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.” 21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in akthe temple. 22And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in althe temple. And amhe kept making signs to them and remained mute.
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