Study Desk

When his division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.

When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said,

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

because he has looked with favoron the humble condition of his servant.Surely, from now on all generationswill call me blessed,

because the Mighty Onehas done great things for me,and his name is holy.

His mercy is from generation to generationon those who fear him.

He has done a mighty deed with his arm;he has scattered the proudbecause of the thoughts of their hearts;

He has helped his servant Israel,remembering his mercy

to Abraham and his descendants forever,just as he spoke to our ancestors.

Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father.

But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”

So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote: “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: