Study Desk

Now the time ^(F1)had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had ^(F1)(C1)displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

And it happened that on ^(C1)the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zechariah, ^(F1)after his father.

And yet his mother responded and said, "No indeed; but ^(C1)he shall be called John."

And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

And they ^(F1)(C1)made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called.

And he asked for a tablet and wrote ^(F1)as follows, "^(C1)His name is John." And they were all amazed.

^(C1)And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking in praise of God.

And fear came on all those who lived around them; and all these matters were being talked about in ^(C1)the entire hill country of Judea.

All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For indeed ^(C1)the hand of the Lord was with him.

And his father Zechariah ^(C1)was filled with the Holy Spirit and ^(C2)prophesied, saying: