Luke 1:39-65

39In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah

40where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!

43How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me.

45Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

46And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,

47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed,

49because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.

50His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.

51He has done a mighty deed with his arm; he has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts;

52he has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

53He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

54He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy

55to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he spoke to our ancestors.

56And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

57Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

58Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

59When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

60But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”

61Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.”

62So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

65Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea.