They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!”

But his mother replied, “No! He must be named John.”

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,

that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.

He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant –

in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.

This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Everyone went to his own town to be registered.

He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.

Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.

He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

So the crowds were asking him, “What then should we do?”

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming – I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people.