the world knew him not. He came
unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. But as many
as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God,
even to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his
glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace
and truth. John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, "This was
he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he
was before me."

For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace. For the law
was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No
man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the
bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

THE PROMISED BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named
Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters
of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous
before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren,
and they both were now well stricken in years.

Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest's office before God
in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest's
office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn
incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at
the hour of incense.

And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right
side of the altar of incense.

And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him, "Fear not, Zacharias: because thy
supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son,
and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and
gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great
in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink;
and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's
womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord
their God. And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of
Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the
Lord a people pr