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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
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Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
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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.
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He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
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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.
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The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
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But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
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You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
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He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
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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 the Son of God.
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For no word from God will ever fail.”
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Mary’s Song
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord
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and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
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The Birth of John the Baptist
When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
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Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.
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Zechariah’s Song
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
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“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
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because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
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and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
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“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
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The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
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Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
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And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
