16. John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God.
17. He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had. And because of John, parents will be more thoughtful of their children. And people who now disobey God will begin to think as they ought to. That is how John will get people ready for the Lord.
18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.”
19. The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, God's servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news.
20. You have not believed what I have said. So you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.”
21. The crowd was waiting for Zechariah and kept wondering why he was staying so long in the temple.
22. When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands, but did not say a thing.
23. When Zechariah's time of service in the temple was over, he went home.
24. Soon after that, his wife was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself,
25. “What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.”
26. One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee
27. with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David.
28. The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”
29. Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant.
30. Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you,
31. and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.
32. He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was.
33. He will rule the people of Israel for ever, and his kingdom will never end.”