17. He will go 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 just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
20. Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
21. The people were waiting for Zechariah, and they marvelled that he delayed in the temple.
22. When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
23. When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
24. After these days Elisheva, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
25. “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst men.”
26. Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27. to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Miriam.