Читать книгу The Story of Jesus The Christ - Helen Braun Hojt - Страница 8

who had a wife Elizabeth, but who had no children. Both were

very sorry for this, and often when they prayed, they asked God

to give them a little son.

On this day, as Zacharias alone in the temple was burning

the incense, and praying to God, he looked up and saw an angel of

the Lord standing at the right side of the altar. When Zacharias

saw him he was afraid. But the angel said: “ Do not be afraid,

Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; God will give you and Eliza¬

beth a baby boy, and you must call his name John. He will

bring you joy and gladness, and many other people will rejoice

that he is born. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord,

and will turn many from their wicked ways, and teach them to

love God. This child is the one whom the prophets said would

come to make the world ready for the Christ.»

Zacharias could not believe what he heard, and asked, “ How

shall I know that what you say is true?» The angel answered,

«God sent me to tell you about it, and because you have not

believed my word you will not be able to speak again until the

day when it comes true.»

The people outside in the courts waited for Zacharias to come

back, and wondered why he stayed so long in the temple. When

he did come out he could not speak to them. They knew that

something had happened, for he made signs to them, but did not

speak. When his week of service was over he went to his home

in the hill country of Judea, and there, when the time came, the

baby boy was born.

Little Jewish children were not named until they were eight

days old. When it w r as time for this baby to be named, the

friends called him Zacharias, after his father. His mother said,

«No, he is to be called John.» The friends thought it was

strange to call him that, for no one in the family ever had that

name; and, too, it was the custom to call the first boy by his