13. But the angel said to him, “Zechariah, don’t be afraid. Your prayer has been heard by God. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son. You will name him John.
14. You will be very happy. Many people will be happy because of his birth.
15. John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer. Even at the time John is born, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16. He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.
17. He himself will go first before the Lord. John will be powerful in spirit like Elijah. He will make peace between fathers and their children. He will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking. He will make people ready for the coming of the Lord.”
18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too.”
19. The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God. God sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.
20. Now, listen! You will not be able to talk until the day these things happen. You will lose your speech because you did not believe what I told you. But these things will really happen.”
21. Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.
22. Then Zechariah came outside, but he could not speak to them. So they knew that he had seen a vision in the Temple. Zechariah could not speak. He could only make signs to them.
23. When his time of service as a priest was finished, he went home.
24. Later, Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant. She did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said,