Luke 1:53-66

⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

⁵⁴“He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, ever mindful of his mercy,

⁵⁵as he promised to our ancestors for Abraham and his descendants for ever.”

⁵⁶Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then returned to her home.

⁵⁷When Elizabeth's time came, she gave birth to a son;

⁵⁸and her neighbours and relatives, hearing of the great goodness of the Lord to her, came to share her joy.

⁵⁹A week later they met to circumcise the child, and were about to call him Zechariah after his father,

⁶⁰when his mother spoke up, “No, he is to be called John.”

⁶¹“You have no relation of that name!” they exclaimed;

⁶²and they made signs to the child's father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.

⁶³Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words — ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was surprised

⁶⁴and immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.

⁶⁵All their neighbours were awe-struck at this, and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about.

⁶⁶All who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another — “What can this child be destined to become?” For the Power of the Lord was with him.