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 Zechariah, 5after his father. 60And yet his mother responded 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 this name.” 62And they 78made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63And he asked for a tablet and wrote 9as follows, “10His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 6411And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking in praise of God. 65And fear came on all those who lived around them; and all these matters were being talked about in 12the entire hill country of Judea. 66All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For indeed 13the hand of the Lord was with him.

67And his father Zechariah 14was filled with the Holy Spirit and 15prophesied, saying:68“16Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished 17redemption for His people,69And has raised up a 18horn of salvation for us In the house of 19His servant David--7020Just as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets 21from ancient times--712223Salvation 24from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;7225To show mercy to our fathers, 26And to remember His holy covenant,7327The oath which He swore to our father Abraham,74To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Would serve Him without fear,7528In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.76And you, child, also will be called the 29prophet of 30the Most High; For you will go on 31before the Lord to 32prepare His ways;77To give His people the knowledge of salvation 33By 34the forgiveness of their sins,78Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which 35the Sunrise from on high will visit us,7936To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the 37way of peace.”

8038Now the child grew and was becoming strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.