spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about
three months, and returned to her own house.730 Then it proceeds thus:—She was found
with child of the Holy Ghost.731 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing
to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on
these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus:
for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child,
and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel; which, being interpreted,
is, God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden
him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not.732
Now733 Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth
a son. And her neighbours and her relatives734 heard that the Lord magnified His mercy
with her; and they congratulated her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came
to circumcise the child; and they called735 him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And
his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her,
There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father,
how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His
name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his
tongue, and he spake and praised God. And fear came on all them that dwelt round about
them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa.
And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What manner of child,
thinkest thou, shall this be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God
of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation
for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets,
which have been since the world began; (to give) salvation from our enemies, and from the
730 Luke i. 5–36.
731 Matt. i. 18. [The discovery of Mary’s condition probably occurred, as the order of Augustin implies, after
the return of Mary from the visit to Elizabeth. But it is altogether uncertain whether it preceded the birth of
John the Baptist.—R.]
732 Matt. i. 18–25. [The last clause of ver. 25 is omitted here, but given in §14. Possibly the variation was in-
tentional.—R.]
733 Luke i. 57.
734 Cognati.
735 [Vocabunt, “would have called,” answering to the Greek imperfect of arrested action.—R.]
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A Statement of the Manner in Which Luke’s Procedure is Proved to Be in Harmony…