ng without at the hour of incense. 11 And there
appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side
of the altar of incense. 12 And Zacharias was troubled when he saw
_him_, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him,
Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy
wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name
John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall
rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the
Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be
filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And
many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their
God. 17 And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of
Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient _to walk_ in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for
the Lord a people prepared _for him_. 18 And Zacharias said unto
the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my
wife well stricken in years. 19 And the angel answering said unto
him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was
sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. 20
And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the
day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst
not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the
people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he
tarried in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak
unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the
temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained
dumb. 23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration
were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.

24 And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid
herself five months, saying, 25 Thus hath the Lord done unto me in
the days wherein he looked upon _me_, to take away my reproach
among men.

Luke is the gospel of gladness, of praise, and of prayer, of tender, human
interest, and of heavenly grace. It is fitting, therefore, that the
narrative should open with a scene in the Temple at the hour of incense
and with a divine promise which fills a heart with rapturous joy. This
promise concerns the birth of one who is to prep