Luke 1:11–35
1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
1:13 But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
1:14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
1:16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
1:17 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.”
1:18 Zacharias 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.”
1:19 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.
1:20 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.”
1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled that he delayed in the temple.
1:22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
1:23 When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
1:24 After these days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
1:25 “Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach amongst men.”
1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.
1:28 Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you amongst women!”
1:29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
1:30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’
1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
1:34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”
1:35 The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
