59. And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.
60. But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John."
61. And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name."
62. And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.
63. And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all astonished.
64. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God.
65. Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.
66. All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.
67. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
68. "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69. And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-
70. As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-
71. Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;
72. To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,
73. The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74. To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear,