10. And the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
11. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12. When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13. 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.
14. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
16. He will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
17. And 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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well advanced in years.”
19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. And I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.