15. for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
16. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
17. And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.”
19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20. And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place.”
21. Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place.
22. When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.
23. When his time of service was over, he went to his home.
24. After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,
25. “This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.”
26. In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
27. to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!”
29. But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.
30. So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God!
31. Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
33. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”