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Zechariah Sees the Angel

During Herod's rule over Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, belonging to the division of Abijah, whose wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous before God, obeying all the Lord's commandments and regulations, but they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were already advanced in age. One day, Zechariah was serving as a priest before God according to his division, and by lot he was chosen to enter the temple of the Lord to burn incense. While the incense was being burned, the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared at the right side of the incense altar. When Zechariah saw him, he was frightened. The angel told him not to be afraid, for his prayer had been heard, and his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son, and he should name him John. This child would be great in the sight of the Lord, and he would turn many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God. Because Zechariah disbelieved the angel's words, he was struck mute, and would remain so until the day these things came to pass.