In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechari\u2032ah, of the division of Abi\u2032jah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.<\/p>\n
Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechari\u2032ah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, \u201cDo not be afraid, Zechari\u2032ah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.<\/p>\n
And you will have joy and gladness,
\nand many will rejoice at his birth;
\nfor he will be great before the Lord,
\nand he shall drink no wine nor strong drink,
\nand he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
\neven from his mother\u2019s womb.
\nAnd he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,
\nand he will go before him in the spirit and power of Eli\u2032jah,
\nto turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
\nand the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
\nto make ready for the Lord a people prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Zechari\u2032ah said to the angel, \u201cHow shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.\u201d And the angel answered him, \u201cI am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.\u201d And the people were waiting for Zechari\u2032ah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.<\/p>\n
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, \u201cThus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.\u201d<\/p>\n
–Luke 1:5-25<\/p>\n
\nFreezing fog in #rushmerecountrypark<\/a>@GreensandTrust<\/a> #winter<\/a> #ThePhotoHour<\/a> #photography<\/a> #cold<\/a> #NaturePhotography<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/sP1EXdzY9t<\/a><\/p>\n
— Dale Rockell Photography (@drockellphoto) December 20, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n