17. He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18. Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old."
19. The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you.
20. Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen."
21. Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time.
22. When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak.
23. When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home.
24. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying,
25. "This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people."
26. When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee,
27. to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28. When the angel came to her, he said, "Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!"
29. She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
30. The angel said, "Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you.
31. Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.