57. When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy.
58. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord was very good to her, and they were happy for her.
59. When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father’s name.
60. But his mother said, “No, he will be named John.”
61. The people said to Elizabeth, “But no one in your family has that name.”
62. Then they made signs to his father, “What would you like to name him?”
63. Zechariah asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was surprised.
64. Then Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God.
65. And all their neighbors were afraid. In all the hill country of Judea, people continued talking about these things.
66. Everyone who heard about these things wondered about them. They thought, “What will this child be?” They could see that the Lord was with him.
67. Then Zechariah, John’s father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and told the people a message from God:
68. “Praise to the Lord God of Israel. He has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
69. He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of his servant David.
70. This is what he promised through his holy prophets long ago.
71. He will save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.
72. God said he would show mercy to our fathers, and he remembered his holy agreement.
73. This was the promise he made to our father Abraham,
74. a promise to free us from the power of our enemies, so that we could serve him without fear