Luke 1:13

The angel appeared to announce God’s answer to Zechariah’s prayer. He told Zechariah not to fear, a fairly common statement in Luke’s Gospel (cf. Luke 1:30; Luke 2:10; Luke 5:10; Luke 8:50; Luke 12:7; Luke 12:32). Zechariah’s prayer may have been a petition (Gr. deesis) for a son that the priest and his barren wife probably offered many times in previous years. However it was probably the petition that Zechariah had just offered as he presented the incense, presumably as he prayed for Israel’s salvation (cf. Daniel 9:20). In either case God’s provision of John was the answer. God named John (Jehochanan, or Jochanan) indicating His sovereign authority (cf. Luke 1:31). John’s name means, "Yahweh is [or has been] gracious."