The Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now the time was fulfilled for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Then her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to give him the name of his father Zechariah. 60 But the child's mother responded, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 But they said to her, “There is no one among yoʋr relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they began making signs to the child's father to find out what he wanted to name him. 63 So he asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name [fn]is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 At once Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, blessing God. 65 Then fear came upon all who dwelt around them, and in the entire hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 66 All who heard about this laid it up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child become?” [fn]And the hand of the Lord was with him.