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
75. in a way that is holy and right for as long as we live.
76. “Now you, little boy, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go first before the Lord to prepare the way for him.
77. You will make his people understand that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.
78. “With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will shine on us.
79. It will bring light to those who live in darkness, in the fear of death. It will guide us into the way that brings peace.”
80. And so the little boy John grew up and became stronger in spirit. Then he lived in areas away from other people until the time when he came out to tell God’s message to the people of Israel.