Study Desk

With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

His help he has given to Israel, his servant, so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,

As he gave his word to our fathers.

And on the eighth day they came to see to the circumcision of the child, and they would have given him the name of Zacharias, his father's name;

But his mother made answer and said, No, his name is John.

And they made signs to his father, to say what name was to be given to him.

And he sent for writing materials and put down: His name is John; and they were all surprised.

And straight away his mouth was open and his tongue was free and he gave praise to God.

And his father, Zacharias, was full of the Holy Spirit, and with the voice of a prophet said these words:

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and made them free,

Lifting up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

(As he said, by the mouth of his holy prophets, from the earliest times,)

To do acts of mercy to our fathers and to keep in mind his holy word,

And you, child, will be named the prophet of the Most High: you will go before the face of the Lord, to make ready his ways;

To give knowledge of salvation to his people, through the forgiveness of sins,

And all men went to be numbered, everyone to his town.

To be put on the list with Mary, his future wife, who was about to become a mother.

And when, after eight days, the time came for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name which the angel had given to him before his birth.

Then he took him in his arms and gave praise to God and said,

And his father and mother were full of wonder at the things which were said about him.