Luke 1:57-80

57Now the time 1had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had 23displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

59And it happened that on 4the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, 5after his father. 60But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but 6he shall be called John.” 61And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” 62And they 7made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “8His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 649And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all 10the hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For 11the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

67And his father Zacharias 12was filled with the Holy Spirit, and 13prophesied, saying:68“14Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished 15redemption for His people,69And has raised up a 16horn of salvation for us In the house of David 17His servant--7018As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets 19from of old--712021Salvation 22from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;7223To show mercy toward our fathers, 24And to remember His holy covenant,7325The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,7526In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.76And you, child, will be called the 27prophet of 28the Most High; For you will go on 29before the Lord to 30prepare His ways;77To give to His people the knowledge of salvation 31By 32the forgiveness of their sins,78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which 33the Sunrise from on high will visit us,7934To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the 35way of peace.”

8036And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.