4. so that you may know the certainty concerning the things about which you were taught.
5. It happened that in the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest, Zechariah by name, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6. And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.
7. And they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren. And they were both advanced in years.
8. And it happened that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
9. according to the custom of the priesthood he was chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense.
10. And the whole crowd of the people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.
11. And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
12. And Zechariah was terrified when he saw the angel, and fear fell upon him.
13. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John.
14. And you will experience joy and exultation, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he must never drink wine or beer, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is still in his mother’s womb.
16. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17. And he will go on before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people made ready.”
18. And Zechariah said to the angel, “By what will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years!”