Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

Circumcision of John the Baptist

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65 Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zacharias’ Prophecy

67 Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

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68 ​​“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,

​​For He has visited and redeemed His people,

69 ​​And has raised up a horn of salvation for us

​​In the house of His servant David,

70 ​​As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,

​​Who have been since the world began,

71 ​​That we should be saved from our enemies

​​And from the hand of all who hate us,

72 ​​To perform the mercy promised to our fathers

​​And to remember His holy covenant,

73 ​​The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

74 ​​To grant us that we,

​​Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

​​Might serve Him without fear,

75 ​​In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

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76 ​​“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

​​For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 ​​To give knowledge of salvation to His people

​​By the remission of their sins,

78 ​​Through the tender mercy of our God,

​​With which the Dayspring from on high has visited[fn] us;

79 ​​To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,

​​To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

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80 So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.