Luke 1:57-80

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord s had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And t on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; u he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." 62 And v they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for w a writing tablet and wrote, u "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64 x And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue y loosed, and he spoke, z blessing God. 65 And a fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all b the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them c laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For d the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah's Prophecy

67 And his father Zechariah e was filled with the Holy Spirit and f prophesied, saying,

68 g "Blessed be the Lord h God of Israel,
for he has i visited and j redeemed his people
 69 and k has raised up l a horn of salvation for us
m in the house of his servant David,
 70 n as o he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
 71 p that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
 72 q to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and r to remember his holy s covenant,
 73 t the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him u without fear,
 75 v in holiness and righteousness before him w all our days.
 76 And you, child, will be called x the prophet of y the Most High;
for z you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
a in the forgiveness of their sins,
 78 because of the b tender mercy of our God,
whereby c the sunrise shall d visit us 1 e from on high
 79 to f give light to g those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into h the way of i peace."

80 j And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was k in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 19:19
    Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die.
  2. Cross References
    Luke 2:21
    And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
    Genesis 17:12
    He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.
    Leviticus 12:3
    And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
    Philippians 3:5
    Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee.
  3. Cross References
    Luke 1:13
    But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
  4. Cross References
    Luke 1:22
    And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:1
    Then the Lord said to me, "Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, 'Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
    Isaiah 30:8
    And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.
  6. Cross References
    Luke 1:60
    But his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John.
  7. Cross References
    Luke 1:20
    And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.
  8. Cross References
    Mark 7:35
    And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
  9. Cross References
    Luke 2:28
    He took him up in his arms and blessed God and said.
    Luke 24:53
    And were continually in the temple blessing God.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 7:16
    Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!
  11. Cross References
    Luke 1:39
    In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah.
  12. Cross References
    Luke 2:19
    But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
    Luke 2:51
    And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
  13. Cross References
    Acts 11:21
    And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
    Acts 13:11
    And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand.
  14. Cross References
    Luke 1:15
    For he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
    Luke 1:41
    And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
  15. Cross References
    Joel 2:28
    And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
  16. Cross References
    1 Kings 1:48
    And the king also said, 'Blessed be the Lord, t...
    1 Chronicles 29:10
    Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presenc...
    Ezra 7:27
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, wh...
    Psalms 41:13
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from ev...
    Psalms 72:18
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alo...
    Psalms 106:48
    Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from ev...
  17. Cross References
    Isaiah 29:23
    For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
    Matthew 15:31
    So that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.
    Acts 13:17
    The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.
  18. Cross References
    Luke 7:16
    Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!
    Exodus 4:31
    And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.
    Luke 1:78
    Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
    Acts 15:14
    Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
    Hebrews 2:6
    It has been testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?
  19. Cross References
    Luke 2:38
    And coming up at that very hour she began to gi...
    Psalms 111:9
    He sent redemption to his people; he has comman...
    Psalms 130:7 - 8
    O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord t...
    Luke 24:21
    But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem ...
    Isaiah 43:1
    But now thus says the Lord, he who created you,...
    Isaiah 59:20
    And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in J...
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:1
    And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the Lord ; my strength is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
    1 Samuel 2:10
    The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the power of his anointed.
    Psalms 132:17
    There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
    Ezekiel 29:21
    "On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord."
  21. Cross References
    2 Samuel 22:3
    My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.
    Psalms 18:2
    The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
  22. Cross References
    Luke 1:32
    He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
  23. Cross References
    Romans 1:2
    Which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures.
    Jeremiah 23:5 - 6
    Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 3:21
    Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
  25. Cross References
    Psalms 106:10
    So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
  26. Cross References
    Micah 7:20
    You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
  27. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:42
    Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.
    Psalms 105:8 - 9
    He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations.
    Luke 1:54 - 55
    He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.
  28. Cross References
    Romans 9:4
    They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 22:16 - 18
    And said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son.
    Genesis 26:3
    Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.
    Hebrews 6:13 - 14
    For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself.
  30. Cross References
    Zephaniah 3:15
    The Lord has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.
  31. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:24
    And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
    1 Thessalonians 2:10
    You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
    Titus 2:12
    Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.
  32. Cross References
    Jeremiah 32:39
    I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.
    Matthew 28:20
    Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
  33. Cross References
    Luke 7:26
    What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
    Luke 20:6
    But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.
    Matthew 11:9
    What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
    Matthew 14:5
    And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.
  34. Cross References
    Luke 1:32
    He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
  35. Cross References
    Luke 1:17
    And he will go before him in the spirit and pow...
    Luke 3:4
    As it is written in the book of the words of Is...
    Luke 7:27
    This is he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I s...
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepar...
    Matthew 3:3
    For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet...
    Mark 1:2 - 3
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold...
  36. Cross References
    Matthew 26:28
    For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
    Mark 1:4
    John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
  37. Cross References
    Colossians 3:12
    Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
  38. Cross References
    Malachi 4:2
    But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
    Ephesians 5:14
    For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
    2 Peter 1:19
    And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
  39. Cross References
    Luke 1:68
    Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
  40. Cross References
    Luke 24:49
    And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
  41. Cross References
    Isaiah 9:2
    The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
    Matthew 4:16
    The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
    Acts 26:18
    To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
    John 8:12
    Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
  42. Cross References
    Psalms 107:10
    Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons.
    Isaiah 42:7
    To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
  43. Cross References
    Romans 3:17
    And the way of peace they have not known.
  44. Cross References
    Luke 2:14
    "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
  45. Cross References
    Luke 2:40
    And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
  46. Cross References
    Matthew 3:1
    In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
    Matthew 11:7
    As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.