55. to Abraham and his children down through the years. He has done it just as he said to our people of long ago."
56. Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she returned home.
57. The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby. She gave birth to a son.
58. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her. They shared her joy.
59. On the eighth day, they came to have the child circumcised. They were going to name him Zechariah, like his father.
60. But his mother spoke up. "No!" she said. "He must be called John."
61. They said to her, "No one among your relatives has that name."
62. Then they motioned to his father. They wanted to find out what he would like to name the child.
63. He asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, "His name is John." Everyone was amazed.
64. Right away Zechariah could speak again. His first words gave praise to God.