15. for he will be great in the sight of [the] Lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,
16. and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.”
18. Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19. And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.
20. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
21. Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary.