Zacharias and Angel

Why did Zacharias “fear” (Luke 1:13) when he saw the angel?
An angel suddenly appearing would have been startling in any setting, but Zacharias had been standing in front of and burning incense on the altar of incense, which is only 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) wide. Since the angel “appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense” (Luke 1:11), he was very close to Zacharias, especially if he appeared in between or through the poles for carrying the altar of incense that stuck out to the altar's left and right.

For what had Zacharias been praying?
His wife Elizabeth to bear him “a son” (Luke 1:13).

What kind of news did the angel bring?
Good. The kid was already even named.

What does John being “filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb” (Luke 1:15) indicate?
Only a human being can be filled with the Holy Spirit, so John was a human being while he was growing inside his mother's womb.

What then is abortion?
Murder of a human being.

What about women's right to choose?
The baby's right to not be murdered trumps the mother's right to not be inconvenienced.

What about in cases of rape or incest?
Imagine a woman was incestuously raped and then fell into a coma, during which she became pregnant, carried her pregnancy to term, and gave birth. If she then wakes up from her coma, learns that the baby in a crib near her is hers from the rape, and asks you to kill the baby, would you? If a rapist's baby shouldn't be murdered while in a crib, neither should the baby be murdered while in the mother.

Does “strong drink” (Luke 1:15) mean hard liquor like whiskey or vodka?
σικερα (sikera), the original Greek word translated “strong drink,” refers to an alcoholic drink that is fermented from a grain or fruit other than grapes, so it could have been beer but not hard liquor, which requires distillation, which wasn't invented for drinks until the 10th century.

Why won't John the Baptist drink “wine or strong drink”?
He was to grow up as a Nazarite (see Nazarite vow).

What will Zacharias' son do to be “great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15)?
He will forego materialistic comforts, eat “locusts,” wear “camel's hair” (Matthew 34), and preach in the “wilderness” (Matthew 3:1), telling sinners to repent (see John the Baptist).

Who are great in the sight of seminary alumni today?
Those who gain materialistic comforts, live and dress like celebrities, and preach in palatial buildings, telling sinners what they want to hear.

Do your choices indicate that you want to be great in the sight of the Lord or world?