5 | Luke – Acts
Luke – Acts | 5
the child you will bear ! But why am I so fa vored , that the moth er of my Lord should come to me ? As soon as the sound of your greet ing reached my ears , the baby in my womb leaped for joy . Blessed is she who has be lieved that the Lord would ful fill his prom is es to her !”
And Mary said :
“ My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior ,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant .
From now on all generations will call me blessed , for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name .
His mercy extends to those who fear him , from generation to generation .
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm ; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts .
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble .
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty .
He has helped his servant Israel , remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever , just as he promised our ancestors .”
Mary stayed with Eliz a beth for about three months and then returned home .
When it was time for Eliz a beth to have her baby , she gave birth to a son . Her neigh bors and rel a tives heard that the Lord had shown her great mer cy , and they shared her joy .
On the eighth day they came to cir cum cise the child , and they were go ing to name him af ter his fa ther Zech a ri ah , but his moth er spoke up and said , “ No ! He is to be called John .”
They said to her , “ There is no one among your rel a tives who has that name .”
Then they made signs to his fa ther , to find out what he would like to name the child . He asked for a writ ing tab let , and to every one ’ s as ton ish ment he wrote , “ His name is John .” Im me di ately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free , and he be gan to speak , prais ing God . All the neigh bors were filled with awe , and
1:43 – 1:65 1:43 – 1:65