57 Now the time [1]had come for Elizabeth to give birth , and she gave birth to a son . 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had [2] displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. 59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child , and they were going to call him Zacharias , [3]after his father . 60 But his mother answered and said , "No indeed ; but he shall be called John ." 61 And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name ." 62 And they made signs to his father , as to what e he wanted him called . 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows , " His name is John ." And they were all astonished . 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God . 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea . 66 All who heard them kept them in mind , saying , "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 1:57-66
Commentary on Luke 1:57-66
(Read Luke 1:57-66)
In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or "Gracious," because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouths must show forth his praise; and better be without speech, than not use it in praising God. It is said, The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy, which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God, and wait the event.