Luke 1:57-80

Christian Standard Bible

The Birth and Naming of John

⁵⁷Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. ⁵⁸Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy,^(A) and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day,^(B) they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. ⁶⁰But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”^(C)

⁶¹Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” ⁶²So they motioned to his father^(D) to find out what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. ⁶⁴Immediately his mouth was opened^(E) and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶All who heard about him^(F) took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Prophecy

⁶⁷Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit^(G) and prophesied:^(H)

⁶⁸Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,^(I)
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.^(J)
⁶⁹He has raised up a horn of salvation for us^(K)
in the house of his servant David,^(L)
⁷⁰just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;^(M)
⁷¹salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
⁷²He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors^(N)
and remembered his holy covenant^(O)—
⁷³the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,^(P)
to grant that we,
⁷⁴having been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear
⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
⁷⁶And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,^(Q)
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,^(R)
⁷⁷to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.^(S)
⁷⁸Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high^(T) will visit us
⁷⁹to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,^(U)
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

⁸⁰The child grew up and became strong in spirit,^[a]^(V) and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

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Footnotes

1:80 Or strong in the Spirit

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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