Luke 1:25-38

25‘The Lord has now given me a baby,’ she said. ‘He has been kind to me. Because of this, other people cannot say bad things about me now.’

26When Elizabeth's baby had grown inside her for nearly six months, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth. Nazareth is a town in Galilee.

27Gabriel went there to visit a young woman. Her name was Mary. She had never had sex with anyone. She had promised to marry a man called Joseph. He belonged to the family of King David.

28Gabriel went to Mary and said, ‘Hello, Mary. The Lord God loves you very much. He is very near to you.’

29Mary had a lot of problems in her mind about Gabriel's message. She did not understand what he meant.

30Then Gabriel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary. God has been kind to you.

31Listen! A baby boy will grow inside you. When he is born, you will call him Jesus.

32He will be great. People will call him the Son of the powerful God who is over all. The Lord God will make him king. He will rule as his ancestor King David ruled.

33He will rule over the family of Jacob for all time. He will be king for all time, without end.’

34Mary asked, ‘How can this happen? I have never had sex with anyone.’

35Gabriel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of God who is over all will cover you like a shadow. So your child will be special to God. He will be completely good. He will be called God's Son.

36Another thing! Your cousin, Elizabeth, is very old. People said that she could not have a baby. Listen! She also will have a son. The baby has grown inside her now for nearly six months.

37There is nothing that God cannot do.’

38Mary answered, ‘I am the servant of the Lord. I have heard what you have said. I want it to happen to me just like that.’ Then the angel left her.