“My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power
of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God.36 Even
Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who
was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.37 For no word from God will
ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be
fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
5 In
the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who
belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a
descendant of Aaron.6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God,
observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.7 But they were childless
because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as
priest before God,9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of
the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.10 And when the time for
the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right
side of the altar of incense.12 When Zechariah saw him, he
was startled and was gripped with fear.13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,
Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,
and you are to call him John.14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many
will rejoice because of his birth,15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He
is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the
Holy Spirit even before he is born.16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel
to the Lord their God.17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit
and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and
the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old
man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of
God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.20 And now
you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because
you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why
he stayed so long in the temple.22 When he came out, he could
not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he
kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home.24 After
this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in
seclusion.25 “The
Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and
taken away my disgrace among the people.”
