Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 1:13

"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." — Luke 1:13 (ASV)

But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard;

The best remedy for fear is answered prayer. If God has heard you, do not be afraid again.

And thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

"The grace" or "the gift of God"—this is what the name "John" signifies; and it is a sweet name for anyone to bear: Thou shalt call his name John.

I do not think the prayer alluded to here was so much a prayer for a son; if so, I think that Zacharias had long ago stopped praying for it, and now his old prayers are heard, after he had discontinued them. I think that it alludes rather to his prayer for the coming of the Christ, the appearance of the Messiah; that prayer was heard, as we will see further on.