# In the past, God had spoken to his prophets so they could speak to his people. Then came 400 years of silence in which he did not speak to men.

This is background information about the prophets of God, and the 400 years that God did not send them. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])

# his people

This could be translated as: “his people, the Israelites” or “his people, the Jews.” But only include the added information if it is not clearly understood who these people were.

# Then came 400 years of silence

Other ways to say this are: “Then 400 years  of silence passed” or “Then there were 400 years of silence.” The last Old Testament prophet, Malachi, has prophesied 400 years before.

# in which he did not speak to men

This could mean ‘during which God did not give any messages to the prophets for his people.’

# Then God sent an angel

This introduces the birth of John the Baptist as a new event. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]])

# Then God sent an angel to a priest named Zechariah

This introduces the angel and Zechariah as new characters in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants]])

# Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, honored God. They were very old, and she had never born any children.

This is background information about the kind of people who Zechariah and Elizabeth were. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]])