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And so it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
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Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
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"Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."
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Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
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to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
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And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
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But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
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Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
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And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.
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He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
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And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
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Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
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And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
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Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.
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For with God nothing will be impossible."
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Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
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Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,
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and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
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And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
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Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
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But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?