20. And now you will have to be silent. You will not be able to speak until after John is born. That's because you did not believe my words. They will come true when the time is right."
21. During that time, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out. They wondered why he stayed in the temple so long.
22. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple. They knew this because he kept motioning to them. He still could not speak.
23. When his time of service was over, he returned home.
24. After that, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She stayed at home for five months.
25. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days, he has been kind to me. He has taken away my shame among the people."
26. In the sixth month after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee.
27. He was sent to a virgin. The girl was engaged to a man named Joseph. He came from the family line of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28. The angel greeted her and said, "The Lord has given you special favor. He is with you."
29. Mary was very upset because of his words. She wondered what kind of greeting this could be.
30. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God is very pleased with you.