18. Zechariah said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? I’m an old man, and my wife is well-advanced in age.”
19. And speaking to him, the angel declared, “I am Gabriel, the one standing in God’s presence. I was commissioned to tell you and proclaim to you this good news.
20. So look, you will be silent and powerless to speak until the day these things happen, since you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their time.”
21. The people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering about his long delay in the Holy Place.
22. But when he came out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the Holy Place. He was making signs to them but remained mute.
23. When the days of his priestly service had been completed, he went home.
24. After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months, saying,
25. “Adonai has done this for me! In these days He looked upon me, to take away my disgrace among the people.”
26. Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret
27. and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam.
28. And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.”
29. But at the message, she was perplexed and kept wondering what kind of greeting this might be.
30. The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God.