The Birth of John the Baptist (LUK 1:57-66)

[1:57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

[1:58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

[1:59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,

[1:60] but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”

[1:61] And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”

[1:62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.

[1:63] And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

[1:64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

[1:65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea,

[1:66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.