Announcement of
Birth of John
7 B.C.
Jerusalem
Luk 1:5 There was in the
days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the
course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Luk 1:6 And they were both
righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the
Lord blameless.
Luk 1:7 And they had no
child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in
years.
Luk 1:8 And it came to
pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his
course,
Luk 1:9 According to the
custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into
the temple of the Lord.
Luk 1:10 And the whole
multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Luk 1:11 And there appeared
unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of
incense.
Luk 1:12 And when Zacharias
saw him, he was troubled,
and fear fell upon him.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said
unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth
shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luk 1:14 And thou shalt
have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
Luk 1:15 For he shall be
great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;
and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luk 1:16 And many of the
children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luk 1:17 And he shall go
before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers
to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord.
Luk 1:18 And Zacharias said
unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife
well stricken in years.
Luk 1:19 And the angel answering
said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to
speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Luk 1:20 And, behold, thou
shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be
performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in
their season.
Luk 1:21 And the people
waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Luk 1:22 And when he came
out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision
in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
Luk 1:23 And it came to
pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he
departed to his own house.
Luk 1:24 And after those
days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Luk 1:25 Thus hath the Lord
dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my
reproach among men.