6. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both good people who pleased God. They did everything the Lord commanded, always following his instructions completely.
7. But they had no children. Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.
8. Zechariah was serving as a priest before God for his group. It was his group’s time to serve.
9. The priests always chose one priest to offer the incense, and Zechariah was the one chosen this time. So he went into the Temple of the Lord to offer the incense.
10. There was a large crowd outside praying at the time the incense was offered.
11. Then, on the right side of the incense table, an angel of the Lord came and stood before Zechariah.
12. When he saw the angel, Zechariah was upset and very afraid.
13. But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a baby boy, and you will name him John.
14. You will be very happy, and many others will share your joy over his birth.
15. He will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even before he is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16. “John will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.
17. John himself will go ahead of the Lord and make people ready for his coming. He will be powerful like Elijah and will have the same spirit. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will cause people who are not obeying God to change and start thinking the way they should.”
18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is also old.”
19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, the one who always stands ready before God. He sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.
20. Now, listen! You will not be able to talk until the day when these things happen. You will lose your speech because you did not believe what I told you. But everything I said will really happen.”