Luke 1:57–80
57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they krejoiced with her.
59 So it was, lon the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, m“No; he shall be called John.”
61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them nkept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And othe hand of the Lord was with him.
Zacharias Prophesies of John’s Ministry
67 Now his father Zacharias pwas filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68 “Blessed qis the Lord God of Israel,
For rHe has visited and redeemed His people,
69 sAnd has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
70 tAs He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been usince the world began,
71 That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
72 vTo perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 wThe oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might xserve Him without fear,
75 yIn holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
76 “And you, child, will be called the zprophet of the Highest;
For ayou will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give bknowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the 1Dayspring from on high 2has visited us;
79 cTo give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To dguide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 So ethe child grew and became strong in spirit, and fwas in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.