Luke 1:57-80

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.

66All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.

69He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

70just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times;

71salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us.

72He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant  —

73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant that we,

74having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, would serve him without fear

75in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

76And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.

78Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us

79to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80The child grew up and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.