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 Judæa, 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,