Study Desk

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

And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God.

"For nothing will be impossible with God."

"For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

"For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

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

Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,

And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David—

"And you, child, also will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

And all the people were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And so the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;

for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

"And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.