55. as He spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
56. Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her own house.
57. Now Elizabeth’s time had come to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.
58. Her neighbors and cousins heard how the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
59. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him Zechariah, after the name of his father.
60. But his mother answered, “Not so! He shall be called John.”
61. They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”
62. They made signs to his father, asking what he would have him called.
63. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all were amazed.
64. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he spoke and praised God.
65. Fear came on all who lived around them. And all these facts were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66. All those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will he be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67. His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,for He has visited and redeemed His people,
69. and has raised up a horn of salvation for usin the house of His servant David,
70. as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of long ago,
71. that we should be saved from our enemiesand from the hand of all who hate us,
72. to perform the mercy promised to our fathersand to remember His holy covenant,
73. the oath which He swore to our father Abraham,
74. to grant us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,might serve Him without fear,