Study Desk

When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

"But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'"

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. ]

Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division,

"You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,

"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;

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

"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.

"For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name.

"AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.

"He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

"He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever."

Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

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.

But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John."