Luke 1:57 – 62

The Birth and Circumcision of John the Baptist (Part 1)

57 Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

59 So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.

60 His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”

61 But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called.

By what we are told here, the pregnancy of Elizabeth was a normal human pregnancy of nine months duration culminating in the delivery of a healthy baby boy.

As many family and friends are common to due when a person is blessed they are happy for that person. This was a special blessing because Zacharias and Elizabeth were well past the common age of conceiving a healthy baby. The reaction of Elizabeth’s neighbors and family is what Paul means in Romans 12:15 ( Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.)

God's promise to Abraham as well as the law of Moses required male children to be circumcised on the eighth day following their birth. (Genesis 17:12, Leviticus 12:2,3) However the naming of the child on the eighth day at the time of circumcision was not specified by law or covenant, but had developed over time as a custom. Another custom was to name a son by the name of the father.

Elizabeth informed them of the correct name the Angel had told Zacharias the baby would be called, even if it did not follow custom.

The custom was to name a boy after a male relative who was in the family, John was not a name by which any of the relatives of Zacharias was called.

Because Zacharias could not speak they argued with Elizabeth until they could not persuade her to their way of following the custom and was determined so they asked Zacharias his wish, surely he would follow reason and follow custom.