8. Zechariah was serving as a priest before God for his group. It was his group’s time to serve.
9. According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10. There were a great many people 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 confused and frightened.
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 son. You will name him John.
14. You will be very happy. Many people will be happy because of his birth.
15. John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even at the time John is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16. He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.
17. He himself will go first before the Lord. John will be powerful in spirit like Elijah. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking. He will make people ready for the coming of the Lord.”
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 old, too.”