Herod the Great, King of Judea, there was a Priest named Zacharias, and his wife's name was Elizabeth; they were very pious, good people, but were grown old without having a child, which was a grief to them. As Zacharias was burning incense in the Temple at Jerusalem,* according to his office as a Priest, an Angel appeared to him standing by the altar. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the Angel said, Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name JOHN; and thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth, for he shall go prepare his way, and make the people of Israel ready to receive him when he comes to offer salvation to them. before the LORD GOD, to Though Zacharias was told by an Angel from Heaven, that he should have a Son who would be the Messenger of the LORD, as the Prophet Elijah had been, he doubted whether it would come to pass or not; then the Angel said unto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and show thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things are performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in due time. And it happened to Zacharias as the angel had said unto him; he immediately lost his speech, and soon after returned to his own house. And Elizabeth had a Son, as the Angel Gabriel had foretold; and as soon as Zacharias had written down that the child should be named John, his speech was restored, and he praised GOD for his mercy and goodness. The Angel GABRIEL delivering a Message from GOD to the VIRGIN MARY. ABOUT Six months after the Angel Gabriel had appeared to Zacharias in the Temple, he was sent from GoD unto a city of Galilee,* called Nazareth,† to a Virgin, who had promised to be the wife of a man named Joseph; and the Virgin's name was Mary. And the Angel said unto her, Hail! thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women! And when Mary saw him she was troubled. And the Angel said unto her. Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with Gon; and behold, thou shalt have a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. Then Mary believed, and * Map of Canaan, H, I, J. † 3 H. |
