Luke 1:5-17

5 In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah, and he had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, whose name was Elizabeth.  6 They were both righteous in God’s sight, living impeccably according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord, 7 but they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren and they were both well advanced in years.

8 Once, when he was serving as priest before God on the roster of his division, 9 Zechariah was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the inner sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.  10 When the time came for the incense offering, with the entire assembly of the people praying outside, 11 and an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right hand side of the altar of incense.  12 When he saw him, Zechariah was shocked and overcome by fear.

13 But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must give him the name John.  14 He will be a joy and a delight to you, and to many people who will rejoice at his coming, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  He is never to drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.  16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.  17 In the spirit and power of Elijah he will go ahead before the Lord, to ‘turn the hearts of the parents to the children’, and the disobedient by the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.’

translation by Paul H Ashby © 2009 all rights reserved