Luke 1:57-80 ▼

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son.

58 And when her neighbors and relatives heard that God had increased his mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

59 And it happened on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the boy; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60 And his mother answered and said to them, Not so; but he should be called John.

61 And they said to her, There is no man in your family, who is called by this name.

62 Then they made signs to his father, what he wanted to call him.

63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote, saying, John is his name. And every one was surprised.

64 And immediately his mouth and his tongue were opened, and he spoke and blessed God.

65 And fear came on all their neighbors; and these things were spoken throughout the mountain of Judaea.

66 And all who heard it reasoned in their hearts, saying, What a boy he will be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, and said,

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel; for he has visited his people and wrought a salvation for them.

69 And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 Just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been for ages,

71 That he would save us from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.

72 He has shown mercy to our fathers, and he has remembered his holy covenants;

73 And the oaths which he swore to Abraham our father,

74 To grant to us, that we may be saved from the hand of our enemies, and serve before him without fear,

75 In justice and righteousness all our days.

76 And you, boy, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his way;

77 To give knowledge of life to his people by the forgiveness of their sins,

78 Through the mercy and kindness of our God; whereby we shall be visited by a ray from above,

79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The boy grew and became strong in spirit; and he was in the desert until the day of his appearance to Israel.