An angel tells Mary of Jesus' birth

God sent his angel, Gabriel, to make two very important announcements.

First, Gabriel visited the priest Zechariah. Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, could not have children, and they both were getting older.

One day, Zechariah went into the temple’s sanctuary, where Gabriel appeared to him. The angel said that Elizabeth was going to have a baby, and the child would be filled with the Holy Spirit and turn many Israelites back to God.

Zechariah did not believe what he heard. For his disbelief, Gabriel told him he would not be able to speak until the baby was born. Zechariah left the sanctuary and all he could do was make hand motions. The people praying outside saw this and knew God had given him a vision. After a time, Elizabeth became pregnant, just as the angel had said.

Gabriel’s second visit was to the Virgin Mary who lived in Nazareth. She was betrothed to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David.

Gabriel told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and she would become the mother of God’s son, Jesus.

“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end,” the angel told her.

Gabriel also told Mary something else: Her cousin, Elizabeth, who could not have children, was going to have a baby too.

“For nothing will be impossible for God,” Gabriel said.

In answer, Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then Gabriel left.

Not long afterwards, Mary took a trip to visit her cousin. When Elizabeth heard Mary come into the house and say hello, her baby — who was John the Baptist — leaped in her womb.

Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. … Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”