a certain
priest by the name of Zachariah, of the class of Abijah; and his wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [1:6]And
they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments
and ordinances of the Lord blameless. [1:7] And they had no son,
because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

3 [1:8]And when he was performing the priest's office in the order of
his class before God, it fell to his lot, [1:9]according to the custom
of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord to burn incense;
[1:10]and all the multitude of the people were praying without, at the
hour of incense. [1:11]And an angel of the Lord appeared to him,
standing on the right side of the altar of incense; [1:12]and Zachariah
was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

4 [1:13]And the angel said to him, Fear not, Zachariah, for your prayer
is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son; and you shall
call his name John. [1:14]And he shall be to you a joy and rejoicing;
and many shall rejoice at his birth; [1:15]for he shall be great in the
sight of the Lord, and shall not drink wine and strong drink, but shall
be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his birth; [1:16]and many of
the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. [1:17]And
he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the
hearts of fathers to children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the
righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. [1:18] And
Zachariah said to the angel, By what shall I know this? for I am an old
man, and my wife advanced in years. [1:19]And the angel answered and
said to him, I am Gabriel, who stand before God; and I was sent to
speak to you, and to tell you this good news. [1:20]And behold you
shall be silent, and not able to speak, till the day these things are
accomplished; because you have not believed my words, which shall be
fulfilled in their time.

5 [1:21]And the people waited for Zachariah, and wondered that he staid
so long in the temple. [1:22]And when he came out he could not speak to
them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. And
he made signs to them, and continued dumb. [1:23]And when the days of
his service were completed he departed to his house. [1:24]And after
these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and hid herself five
months, saying, [1:25]Thus has the Lord dealt with me, in the days in