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Elisabeth: “My husband, you are a great and good man. I am
so sorry that I have not been able to give you children.”

Zacharias put his finger over her mouth.

Zacharias: “It is not your fault that God has not given us children.
Maybe there is a reason for it that we cannot imagine.”

.
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office
before God in the order of his course, According to the custom
of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went
into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the
people was praying without at the time of incense.

Gabriel came and stood on the right side of the altar of incense.
Zacharias saw him and was shocked. Fear fell upon him.

Gabriel: “Don’t be afraid Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy
wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou must call his name John.
You will have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth,
because he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Spirit, even from his mother's womb.”

Gabriel: “Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord
their God. He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord.”

Zacharias: “Said unto the angel, how can I be certain of this? for I am
an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

Gabriel: “I am Gabriel, whom stands in the presence of God; and I’m
sent to speak unto thee, to show you all this good news.”

Zacharias seemed to be saying ah huh but looking on as one doubting.

Gabriel: “You shall be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that
these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my
words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he
tarried so long in the temple.

A person1: “It has never taken him this long before.”

A person2: “I was told that someone has died in there
before but don’t mark my words.”

A person3: “What if something has happened? None of
the people can go in that Holy place.”

When he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he
beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

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