5It came to pass in the days of Herod, king of Judea, that there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah, and his wife was one of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.6They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous acts of the Lord, blameless.7They had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in their days.8Now it came to pass that while he was serving as priest in the order of his division before God,9according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.12Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.13The angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will beget a son for you, and you shall call his name John."14You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.15For he will be great before the Lord, and he will drink no wine or alcoholic drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb.16He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to children and the disobedient to the understanding of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.18Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years."19The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring good news to you of these things."20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day these things come to be, because you did not trust my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.21Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering at his delay in the temple.22When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; he kept making signs to them and remained mute.23When his time of service was completed, he returned to his home.24After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she was hiding herself for five months, saying,25"Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which he looked upon me, to take away my disgrace among humans."