Qur'anic verses - The Birth of John:

 

Zakariya's prayer was answered. The good news that came from God was Yahya, or John the Baptist according to the Bible. John was born after Mary and few years before Jesus, probably around 6 B.C.

John did not live for long; he was executed in about 28 A.D. by Herod, ruler of Judea under the Roman Empire.
     
  Zachariah wondered how this could be when both, he and his wife, were of old age. In addition, his wife was barren. Zacharia's wife was mentioned in the Bible, Luke 1:5, by the name Elizabeth.

The reply came from God to remind Zechariah of God's Might in contrast with his own frailty as a Man. This is a typical Qur'anic style when logic is expressed in simple terms.