o them, and they perceived that he had seen a
vision in the temple; and he was making signs to them, and remained
speechless.

(23)And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were
completed, that he departed to his own house.

(24)And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived; and she hid
herself five months, saying: (25)Thus has 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 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)And the angel coming in to her, said: Hail, highly
favored! The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. (29)And
she was troubled at the saying; and was considering what manner of
salutation this might be. (30)And the angel said to her: Fear not,
Mary; for thou didst find favor 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 Son of the Highest;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father;
(33)and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his
kingdom there shall be no end.

(34)Then said Mary to the angel: How shall this be, seeing that I know
not a man? (35)And the angel answering said to her: The Holy Spirit
will come upon thee, and the power of the Highest will overshadow
thee; therefore also the Holy One that is born shall be called the Son
of God. (36)And, behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also has
conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her
who is called barren. (37)For with God nothing shall be[1:37]
impossible.

(38)And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

(39)And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with
haste, into a city of Judah; (40)and entered into the house of
Zachariah, and saluted Elisabeth. (41)And it came to pass, as
Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her
womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (42)And she spoke
out with a loud voice and said: Blessed art thou among women, and
blessed is the fruit of thy womb. (43)And whence is this to me, that
the mother of my Lord should come to me? (44)For, behold, as the voice
of thy salutatio