Gabriel's Announcement to Mary 

In the middle of November, 8 CE, around sundown, while Mary was at work in her home in Nazareth, Gabriel appeared to her by the side of the low stone table. She was quite upset at first, but she managed to eventually regain her composure. Gabriel said to her:

"I come at the bidding of one who is my Master and whom you shall love and nurture. To you, Mary, I bring glad tidings when I announce that the conception within you is ordained by heaven, and that in due time you will become the mother of a son; you shall call him Joshua, and he shall inaugurate the kingdom of heaven on earth and among men. Speak not of this matter save to Joseph and to Elizabeth, your kinswoman, to whom I have also appeared, and who shall presently also bear a son, whose name shall be John, and who will prepare the way for the message of deliverance which your son shall proclaim to men with great power and deep conviction. And doubt not my word, Mary, for this home has been chosen as the mortal habitat of the child of destiny. My benediction rests upon you, the power of the Most Highs will strengthen you, and the Lord of all the earth shall overshadow you."

This celestial visitation was the only supernatural event connected with Mary’s entire experience of carrying and bearing Jesus – the child of promise.

Mary never did tell of this visitation until weeks later, when she knew for certain that she was pregnant. When she told Joseph about it, he was initially doubtful of Mary’s story. But both he and Mary eventually agreed that they must have been chosen to bring the promised Messiah into the world.

In early February, 7 CE, Mary convinced Joseph to let her visit Elizabeth in the highlands of Judah, four miles west of Jerusalem, when she learned she was pregnant. As Gabriel had told each mother-to-be about his appearance, they naturally wanted to meet, share experiences, and discuss the future of their sons. Mary spent three weeks with her. Elizabeth helped Mary believe in Gabriel's vision, so she returned home more committed to mothering the child of destiny she would soon present to the world.

Following this visit, Mary went to see her parents, Joachim and Hannah. Her two brothers and sisters, as well as her parents, were always doubtful of Jesus' divine mission, albeit they were unaware of the Gabriel encounter. Mary never told anyone else about this visitation, although she did tell her sister Salome that she thought her child would grow up to be a great teacher.

Elizabeth did, however, tell her son, John, about Gabriel's visit to Mary. And John told Jesus about it on the day he baptized Jesus, just before Jesus set out for his forty-day sojourn in the hills. That was the first time Jesus heard the story, and he made no comment.