Sanctuary to offer incense on the altar, while the people prayed without [1]; and, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right hand of the altar of incense.
Zachary was troubled at the sight of the angel; but the angel said to him: “Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer [2] is heard. Thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. Thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth; for he shall be great before the Lord, and shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled[3] with the Holy Ghost even from his mothers womb. He shall convert many[4] of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He shall go before Him [5] in the spirit and power of Elias[6], to prepare for the Lord a perfect people.”
Zachary said to the angel: “Whereby[7] shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” The angel replied: “I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day in which these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words.” Having spoken thus he disappeared.
- ↑ Without . For only the priests were allowed to enter the Sanctuary.
- ↑ Thy prayer. The prayer for the coming of the Saviour of Israel.
- ↑ Be filled. And thereby cleansed from original sin.
- ↑ Many. That many of these required conversion , may be seen by chapter LXXXVI, Old Test.
- ↑ Before Him. Before the Lord God, i. e. the Divine Saviour. H& would go before the Redeemer (who, therefore, would come after him), to bring the people to do penance and sanctify themselves in preparation for the coming of the Saviour.
- ↑ Of Elias, i. e. with the same dispositions and the same zeal, speaking out with courage even against the evil doings of kings, as the great prophet Elias had preached penance of old (Old Test. LXII, LXIII, LXIV).
- ↑ Whereby. The angel told Zachary that not only he should have a son, but that this son should be the precursor of the Redeemer. The news was too great for Zachary, being more than he had dared to ask for. Not feeling able to believe it, he asked for a sign, by which he might be certain that this thing would be as the angel had said.
