The Good News

Luke 1:5-25

It came to pass in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, that there was a certain priest, by name Zachariah, of the daily course of Abia; and that he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Now they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and righteous appointments of the Lord, blameless; and they had no child, inasmuch as Elizabeth was barren, and both had become advanced in their days. 

But it came to pass, as he was doing priestly service in the order of his daily course before God, according to the custom of his priesthood, it fell to his lot to offer incense, entering into the Temple of the Lord; and all the throng of the people was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering. And there appeared unto him a messenger of the Lord, standing on the right hand of the altar of incense; and Zachariah was troubled when he beheld, and fear fell upon him. But the messenger said unto him, Do not fear, Zachariah! Inasmuch as thy supplication hath been hearkened to, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bring forth a son to thee, and thou shalt call his name John; And there shall be joy to thee and exulting, and many over his birth shall rejoice; For he shall be great before the Lord, and wine and strong drink in nowise may he drink, and with Holy Spirit shall he be filled already, from his mother’s womb; And many of the Sons of Israel shall he turn towards the Lord their God; And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, To turn the hearts of fathers unto children, and the unyielding into the prudence of the righteous, and to prepare for the Lord a people made ready. 

And Zachariah said unto the messenger, Whereby shall I know this? for I am aged, and my wife advanced in her days. And the messenger, answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, he that standeth near before God; and have been sent forth to speak unto thee, and to deliver the joyful message unto thee, as touching these things. And lo! thou shalt be silent, and not able to speak until the day when these things shall come to pass; because thou didst not believe in my words, the which shall be fulfilled for their season. 

And the people were expecting Zachariah and began to marvel that he should tarry in the Temple; and when he came forth he was not able to speak unto them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the Temple, and he continued making signs unto them and remained dumb. 

And it came to pass when the days of his public ministration were fulfilled, that he departed unto his house. And after these days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and she disguised herself five months, saying, Thus for me hath the Lord wrought, in the days in which he looked upon me to take away my reproach among men. 

{Quotation from the Emphasized Bible}