[continued from previous message]   
      
   23 As soon as the days of his service were fulfilled,   
   he departed to his own home.   
   24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months   
   she hid herself, saying,   
   25 "Thus the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked on me,   
   to take away my reproach among men."   
      
   The Birth of Jesus Foretold   
      
   26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God   
   to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,   
   27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph,   
   of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.   
   28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favuored.   
   The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women."   
   29 When she saw him, she was troubled by his words, and considered   
   in her mind what kind of greeting this might be.   
   30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found   
   favour with God.   
   31 Listen, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son   
   and shall call His name JESUS.   
   32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest.   
   And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,   
   33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever.   
   And of His kingdom there will be no end."   
   34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"   
   35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,   
   and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.   
   Therefore the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God.   
   36 Listen, your cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age.   
   And this is the sixth month with her who was declared barren.   
   37 For with God nothing will be impossible."   
   38 Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according   
   to your word." Then the angel departed from her.   
      
   [5] There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest   
   named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of   
   Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.   
   [6] And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments   
   and ordinances of the Lord blameless.   
   [7] And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both   
   were now well stricken in years.   
   [8] And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before   
   God in the order of his course,   
   [9] According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn   
   incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.   
   [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time   
   of incense.   
   [11] And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right   
   side of the altar of incense.   
   [12] And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.   
   [13] But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is   
   heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his   
   name John.   
   [14] And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his   
   birth.   
   [15] For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither   
   wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from   
   his mother's womb.   
   [16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.   
   [17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn   
   the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom   
   of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.   
   [18] And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am   
   an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.   
   [19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the   
   presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad   
   tidings.   
   [20] And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day   
   that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words,   
   which shall be fulfilled in their season.   
   [21] And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so   
   long in the temple.   
   [22] And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived   
   that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and   
   remained speechless.   
   [23] And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were   
   accomplished, he departed to his own house.   
   [24] And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five   
   months, saying,   
   [25] Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me,   
   to take away my reproach among men.   
   [26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city   
   of Galilee, named Nazareth,   
   [27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of   
   David; and the virgin's name was Mary.   
   [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly   
   favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.   
   [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her   
   mind what manner of salutation this should be.   
   [30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour   
   with God.   
   [31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,   
   and shalt call his name JESUS.   
   [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the   
   Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:   
   [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom   
   there shall be no end.   
   [34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a   
   man?   
   [35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come   
   upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore   
   also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of   
   God.   
   [36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her   
   old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.   
   [37] For with God nothing shall be impossible.   
   [38] And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according   
   to thy word. And the angel departed from her.   
   Luke 1:39-80   
      
   Mary Visits Elizabeth   
      
   39 In those days Mary arose and quickly went into the hill country,   
   to a city of Judah,   
   40 and entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.   
   41 When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped   
   in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.   
   42 She spoke out with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women,   
   and blessed is the fruit of your womb!   
   43 But why is this granted to me,   
   that the mother of my Lord should come to me?   
   44 Indeed, as soon as the sound of your greeting came to my ears,   
   the baby in my womb leaped for joy.   
   45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a completion   
   to those things which were told her by the Lord."   
      
   The Song of Mary   
      
   46 And Mary said:   
   "My soul magnifies the Lord,   
   47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.   
   48 For He has regarded   
   the low estate of His servant;   
   surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed.   
   49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,   
   and holy is His name.   
   50 His mercy is on those who fear Him   
   from generation to generation.   
   51 He has shown strength with His arm;   
   He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.   
   52 He has pulled down the mighty from their thrones   
   and exalted those of low degree.   
   53 He has filled the hungry with good things,   
   and the rich He has sent away empty.   
   54 He has helped His servant Israel,   
   in remembrance of His mercy,   
   55 as He spoke to our fathers,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)