The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumciseo the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”p

61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

62 Then they made signsq to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”r 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,s praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judeat people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.u