59. When the child was eight days old, they went ⌊to the temple⌋ to circumcise him. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father.
60. But his mother spoke up, “Absolutely not! His name will be John.”
61. Their friends said to her, “But you don’t have any relatives with that name.”
62. So they motioned to the baby’s father to see what he wanted to name the child.
63. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed.
64. Suddenly, Zechariah was able to speak, and he began to praise God.
65. All their neighbors were filled with awe. Throughout the mountain region of Judea, people talked about everything that had happened.
66. Everyone who heard about it seriously thought it over and asked, “What does the future hold for this child?” It was clear that the Lord was with him.
67. His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
68. “Praise the Lord God of Israel!He has come to take care of his peopleand to set them free.