Luke 1:57-66

Expanded Bible

The Birth of John

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a ·boy [^Lson]. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard how ·good [greatly merciful] the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him [Gen. 17:12]. They ·wanted [were about] 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 this name.” ⁶² Then they made ·signs [gestures; motions] to his father to find out what he would like to name him [^Cindicating that Zechariah was not only mute but also deaf].

⁶³ Zechariah ·asked [motioned] for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John,” and everyone ·was surprised [marveled; was amazed]. ⁶⁴ Immediately ·Zechariah could talk again [^Lhis mouth was opened and his tongue freed], and he began ·praising [blessing] God. ⁶⁵ All their neighbors ·became alarmed [were afraid/in awe], and in all the ·mountains [hill country] of Judea people continued talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ The people who heard about them ·wondered [^Lkept/pondered them in their hearts], saying, “What will this child [turn out to] be?” because the [^Lhand of the; ^Ca metaphor for empowering presence] Lord was with him.