The Birth of John the Baptist

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”^(A)

⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”^(A)

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel^(A) of the Lord appeared to him in a dream^(B) and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[a](C) because he will save his people from their sins.”^(D)