Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Annas » Associate high priest with caiaphas
met in Jerusalem, including Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all that were members of the high priest's family.
Verse Concepts
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.
Verse Concepts
and took Him first to Annas. For he was father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.
Verse Concepts
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
Verse Concepts
So Annas sent Him over, still in handcuffs, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Verse Concepts
Awakenings and religious reforms » -hezekiah 2ch 30 » -ezra
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the sermon-book of the prophet Isaiah: "Here is a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord, make the paths straight for Him. read more.
Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'" So he used to say to the crowds that continued to come out there to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance that you profess, and do not even begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather,' for I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree, then, that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire." So the crowds were asking him this question, "What then ought we to do?" He answered them, "The man who has two shirts must share with him who has none, and the man who has food must do the same." Then even the tax-collectors came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what ought we to do?" So he said to them, "Stop collecting any more than is prescribed for you." Then some soldiers too were asking him, "What ought we too to do?" So he said to them, "Never extort money from anyone, never make a false accusation, and always be satisfied with your wages."
Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'" So he used to say to the crowds that continued to come out there to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance that you profess, and do not even begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather,' for I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree, then, that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire." So the crowds were asking him this question, "What then ought we to do?" He answered them, "The man who has two shirts must share with him who has none, and the man who has food must do the same." Then even the tax-collectors came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what ought we to do?" So he said to them, "Stop collecting any more than is prescribed for you." Then some soldiers too were asking him, "What ought we too to do?" So he said to them, "Never extort money from anyone, never make a false accusation, and always be satisfied with your wages."
religious Awakenings » -hezekiah 2ch 30 » -ezra
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the sermon-book of the prophet Isaiah: "Here is a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord, make the paths straight for Him. read more.
Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'" So he used to say to the crowds that continued to come out there to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance that you profess, and do not even begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather,' for I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree, then, that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire." So the crowds were asking him this question, "What then ought we to do?" He answered them, "The man who has two shirts must share with him who has none, and the man who has food must do the same." Then even the tax-collectors came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what ought we to do?" So he said to them, "Stop collecting any more than is prescribed for you." Then some soldiers too were asking him, "What ought we too to do?" So he said to them, "Never extort money from anyone, never make a false accusation, and always be satisfied with your wages."
Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'" So he used to say to the crowds that continued to come out there to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance that you profess, and do not even begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather,' for I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree, then, that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire." So the crowds were asking him this question, "What then ought we to do?" He answered them, "The man who has two shirts must share with him who has none, and the man who has food must do the same." Then even the tax-collectors came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what ought we to do?" So he said to them, "Stop collecting any more than is prescribed for you." Then some soldiers too were asking him, "What ought we too to do?" So he said to them, "Never extort money from anyone, never make a false accusation, and always be satisfied with your wages."
Caiaphas » High priest
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.
Verse Concepts
The high priest » Assisted by a deputy
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.
Verse Concepts
John » Ministry of
John the Baptizer appeared in the desert and was preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins.
Verse Concepts
In those days John the Baptist appeared, and kept preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying, "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, when he said: "Here is a voice of one who shouts in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; Make the paths straight for him.'"
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins,
There appeared a man named John, sent from God. He came for the purpose of testifying, to testify to the light, so that everyone through him might come to believe. He was not the light; he came to testify to the light.
John » Lives in the desert
John the Baptizer appeared in the desert and was preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins.
Verse Concepts
Now the child continued to grow and to gain strength in the Spirit, and he lived in the desert until the day when he announced himself to Israel.
Verse Concepts
In those days John the Baptist appeared, and kept preaching in the desert of Judea,
Verse Concepts
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins,
John the baptist » What was foretold about john the baptist
In those days John the Baptist appeared, and kept preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying, "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, when he said: "Here is a voice of one who shouts in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; Make the paths straight for him.'"
But as they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the desert to gaze at? A reed that is tossed to and fro by the wind? If not, what did you go out there to see? A man dressed in silks and satins? No, people who dress in that way are found in the palaces of kings. If not, why did you go out there? To see a prophet? read more.
This is the man of whom the Scripture says, "'Attention! I am sending my messenger on before you; He will prepare the road ahead of you.' "I solemnly say to you, of all men born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has ever appeared; and yet the one who is least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
This is the man of whom the Scripture says, "'Attention! I am sending my messenger on before you; He will prepare the road ahead of you.' "I solemnly say to you, of all men born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has ever appeared; and yet the one who is least important in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah: "Here I send my messenger ahead of you; He will prepare your way. He is a voice of one who shouts in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; make the paths straight for Him.'"
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the sermon-book of the prophet Isaiah: "Here is a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord, make the paths straight for Him. read more.
Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'"
Every ravine must be filled up, and every mountain and hill leveled down; the crooked places must become straight roads, and the rough roads must be made smooth, And all mankind must see the salvation of God.'"
And so He answered them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind are seeing and the crippled are walking, the lepers are being healed and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised and the poor are having the good news preached to them. And happy is the man who finds no cause for stumbling over me." But when John's messengers had gone, He began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the desert to gaze at? A reed that is tossed to and fro by the wind? read more.
If not, what did you go out there to see? A man dressed in silks and satins? No. People who dress gorgeously and live luxuriously are found in royal palaces. If not, then what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is far more than a prophet. This is the man of whom the Scripture says: "'Attention! I send my messenger on before you. He will prepare the road ahead of you.' "I tell you, of all men born of women there is not one greater than John; and yet the one who is of least importance in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
If not, what did you go out there to see? A man dressed in silks and satins? No. People who dress gorgeously and live luxuriously are found in royal palaces. If not, then what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is far more than a prophet. This is the man of whom the Scripture says: "'Attention! I send my messenger on before you. He will prepare the road ahead of you.' "I tell you, of all men born of women there is not one greater than John; and yet the one who is of least importance in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Now this is the testimony which John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem, to ask him, "Who are you?" He frankly admitted, and did not try at all to deny it; yes, he frankly admitted, "I am not the Christ." So they asked him again, "What are you then? Elijah?" And he answered, "Of course, I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." read more.
Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us, so that we can have an answer to give to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" He said, "I am a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Make the road straight for the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us, so that we can have an answer to give to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" He said, "I am a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Make the road straight for the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » A second priest, under the high priest
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.
Verse Concepts
Repentance » Who baptized with the baptism of repentance
In those days John the Baptist appeared, and kept preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying, "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near." This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, when he said: "Here is a voice of one who shouts in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord; Make the paths straight for him.'" read more.
This very John had his clothing made of camel's hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist; his food was dried locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea, even the whole Jordan district, continued to go out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, as one by one they continued to confess their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance you profess, and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather? For I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree then that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you in water to picture your repentance. But He that is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not fit to carry His shoes. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire;
This very John had his clothing made of camel's hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist; his food was dried locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea, even the whole Jordan district, continued to go out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan River, as one by one they continued to confess their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to escape from the wrath that is coming? Produce, then, fruit that is consistent with the repentance you profess, and do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather? For I tell you, God can raise up descendants for Abraham even out of these stones. Now the axe is already lying at the roots of the trees. Every tree then that fails to bear good fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you in water to picture your repentance. But He that is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not fit to carry His shoes. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire;
Then Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism that was an expression of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was to come after him; that is, in Jesus."
Verse Concepts
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert. And he went all over the Jordan valley, preaching a baptism conditioned on repentance to obtain the forgiveness of sins,
The Roman empire » Judea a province of, under a procurator or a governor
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.
Verse Concepts
He read the letter and asked Paul what province he was from, and on learning that he was from Cilicia,
Verse Concepts
Now three days after his arrival Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem,
Zacharias (zechariah) » The father of john the baptist
in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the message of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the desert.
Verse Concepts
In the days when Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest whose name was Zechariah, who belonged to the division of Abijah. His wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Now they were both upright in the sight of God, walking without reproach in all the Lord's commands and requirements. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both of them were far advanced in years. read more.
Once when he was acting as priest before God, when his division was on duty, it fell to his lot, in accordance with the priests' customs, to go into the sanctuary of the Lord to burn the incense, while all the throng of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense burning. In the meantime, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was agitated, even overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must name him John. This will bring you gladness and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must drink no wine nor strong drink, and so he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his birth. And he will turn many of Israel's descendants to the Lord their God. He will go before Him in the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the upright, to make ready for the Lord a people perfectly prepared." Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years." The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel; I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to talk with you and to tell you this good news. Now you will keep silent and be unable to talk until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I told you, for it will be fulfilled at the proper time." Meanwhile the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. Meanwhile he kept on making signs to them, and remained dumb. But when the period of his service was over, he went back to his home. So after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, "This is what the Lord has done for me when He smiled upon me to take away my disgrace among men." Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin there engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. So the angel came to her home and said, "Congratulations, you highly favored woman! The Lord be with you!" But she was agitated at what he said, and began to ponder what this greeting meant. Then the angel said, "Stop being afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Listen! You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His reign will have no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no husband?" Then the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and so your child will be called holy, the Son of God. And listen! your relative, Elizabeth, has herself too become pregnant, although she is old, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing is ever impossible for God." Then Mary said, "I am the Lord's slave. May what you say take place with me." Then the angel left her. Now in those days Mary got up and hurried off to the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she went to Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and with a loud shout she said: "Blessed are you among women, And blessed is your child! Why is this privilege mine, to have the mother of my Lord come to me? For as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy within me! Blessed is she who has believed, for what is promised to her by the Lord will be fulfilled." Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord; my spirit exults in God my Saviour; for He has smiled upon His slave in her lowly station, for from this day all ages will count me happy! For the Almighty has done wonders for me, and holy is His name! He shows His mercy from age to age to those who fear him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm. He has scattered those that are proud in the purpose of their hearts. He has dethroned monarchs and exalted the poor. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped His servant Israel, so as to remember mercy, as He promised our forefathers, Abraham and his descendants forever." Now Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned home. So it was time for Elizabeth to bear a child, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and so they were rejoicing with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they tried to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother said, "Never! But he must be named John." Then they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives that bears that name." So they began to make signs to his father to find out what he might wish him to be named. Then he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. Then the use of his voice and tongue was at once restored,: and he began to speak, and continued to praise God. And all the neighbors were overwhelmed with awe, and all over the hill country of Judea these things were being talked, and all who heard them kept them in their hearts, and said, "What then is this child to be?" for the hand of the Lord was with him. Now his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he uttered the following prophecy: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has come and brought His people deliverance; and He has made a mighty Saviour for us in the house of His servant David, "as He promised by the lips of His ancient prophets, deliverance from our foes and from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our forefathers, and carry out His sacred covenant, the oath which He swore to our forefather Abraham, to grant us deliverance from the dreaded hand of our foes, so that we could serve Him in holiness and uprightness In His own presence all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready His ways, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because the heart of our God is merciful. And so the day will dawn upon us from on high, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Now the child continued to grow and to gain strength in the Spirit, and he lived in the desert until the day when he announced himself to Israel.
Once when he was acting as priest before God, when his division was on duty, it fell to his lot, in accordance with the priests' customs, to go into the sanctuary of the Lord to burn the incense, while all the throng of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense burning. In the meantime, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was agitated, even overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must name him John. This will bring you gladness and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must drink no wine nor strong drink, and so he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his birth. And he will turn many of Israel's descendants to the Lord their God. He will go before Him in the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the upright, to make ready for the Lord a people perfectly prepared." Then Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years." The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel; I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to talk with you and to tell you this good news. Now you will keep silent and be unable to talk until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I told you, for it will be fulfilled at the proper time." Meanwhile the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary. But when he came out, he could not speak to them, and so they knew that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. Meanwhile he kept on making signs to them, and remained dumb. But when the period of his service was over, he went back to his home. So after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, "This is what the Lord has done for me when He smiled upon me to take away my disgrace among men." Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin there engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. So the angel came to her home and said, "Congratulations, you highly favored woman! The Lord be with you!" But she was agitated at what he said, and began to ponder what this greeting meant. Then the angel said, "Stop being afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Listen! You will become pregnant and bear a son, and you must name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His reign will have no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no husband?" Then the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and so your child will be called holy, the Son of God. And listen! your relative, Elizabeth, has herself too become pregnant, although she is old, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing is ever impossible for God." Then Mary said, "I am the Lord's slave. May what you say take place with me." Then the angel left her. Now in those days Mary got up and hurried off to the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she went to Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and with a loud shout she said: "Blessed are you among women, And blessed is your child! Why is this privilege mine, to have the mother of my Lord come to me? For as soon as your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy within me! Blessed is she who has believed, for what is promised to her by the Lord will be fulfilled." Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord; my spirit exults in God my Saviour; for He has smiled upon His slave in her lowly station, for from this day all ages will count me happy! For the Almighty has done wonders for me, and holy is His name! He shows His mercy from age to age to those who fear him. He has done mighty deeds with His arm. He has scattered those that are proud in the purpose of their hearts. He has dethroned monarchs and exalted the poor. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped His servant Israel, so as to remember mercy, as He promised our forefathers, Abraham and his descendants forever." Now Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned home. So it was time for Elizabeth to bear a child, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and so they were rejoicing with her. On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they tried to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother said, "Never! But he must be named John." Then they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives that bears that name." So they began to make signs to his father to find out what he might wish him to be named. Then he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all astonished. Then the use of his voice and tongue was at once restored,: and he began to speak, and continued to praise God. And all the neighbors were overwhelmed with awe, and all over the hill country of Judea these things were being talked, and all who heard them kept them in their hearts, and said, "What then is this child to be?" for the hand of the Lord was with him. Now his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he uttered the following prophecy: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has come and brought His people deliverance; and He has made a mighty Saviour for us in the house of His servant David, "as He promised by the lips of His ancient prophets, deliverance from our foes and from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our forefathers, and carry out His sacred covenant, the oath which He swore to our forefather Abraham, to grant us deliverance from the dreaded hand of our foes, so that we could serve Him in holiness and uprightness In His own presence all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to make ready His ways, to give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because the heart of our God is merciful. And so the day will dawn upon us from on high, to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Now the child continued to grow and to gain strength in the Spirit, and he lived in the desert until the day when he announced himself to Israel.