Luke starts Luke 1 stating that he had "carefully investigated" matters so that Theophilus could "know the certainty of the things he had been taught". An angel of the Lord told priest Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth would have a son whom they should name John, who will minister "in the spirit and power of Elijah... to make ready a people prepared for the Lord". However John doubted this as they were advanced in years and without children, so Zechariah was struck dumb for his unbelief, but his wife did become pregnant. After this the angel Gabriel went to a virgin called Mary and told her that she was going to have a son who should be called Jesus and who will reign over the house of Jacob forever... and all this will be by the power of the Holy Spirit... and he will be the Son of God... for nothing is impossible for God. Mary went and visited her relative Elizabeth and her baby John leapt in her womb and she blessed Mary. Then Mary sang: "My soul praises the Lord... for he has been mindful of my humble state... the Mighty One has done great things for me... he has performed mighty deeds... he has filled the hungry with good things... he has helped his servant Israel". So Mary stayed for 3 months at Elizabeth's. Then the time came for John the Baptist to be born whom family members wanted to name after his father, but through Elizabeth's insistence and Zechariah's confirmation their son was named John, and immediately his voice returned as he praised God. Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to the Lord... because he has come and redeemed his people... he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David... to remember his holy covenant... to rescue us... and to enable us to serve him... and you my child will be called a prophet... and you will prepare the way for the Lord... to give the people the knowledge of salvation... to shine on those living in darkness". And John the Baptist grew, became strong in spirit and lived in the desert".
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