4. The Angel Announces the Birth of the Forerunner. His Conception. Lk. 1:5–25

In the days of Herod, king of the Jews, there was a priest of the order of Abijah named Zechariah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were well advanced in years.

Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and offer incense, and the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.

And there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said to him: Do not fear, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great before the Lord; he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

And Zechariah said to the Angel: How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years. And the Angel answered him: I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good tidings; and behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and marveled that he delayed in the temple. But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying: So the Lord has done for me in these days, when He looked upon me to take away my reproach among people.