Pilate asked them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”

So the soldiers led him into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called together the whole cohort.

And very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb.

Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.

After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,

But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.

In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,

So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

They said to her, “But none of your relatives bears this name.”

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.

Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.

and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.

Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”

So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.