The Annunciation
Bible Art and Bible Lessons

ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER Zacharias saw the vision in the Temple, the same angel Gabriel was sent from the Lord to a city in the part of the land called Galilee, which was in the north. The city to which the angel was sent was Nazareth. There the angel found a young girl named Mary, who was a cousin to Elizabeth. Mary was soon to be married to a good man who had sprung from the line of King David, though he was not himself a king, or a rich man. He was a carpenter or woodworker, living in Nazareth, and his name was Joseph.

The angel came into the room where Mary was, and said to her, "Hail, woman favored by the Lord; the Lord is with you!"  Mary was surprised at the angel's words, and wondered what they could mean. Then the angel spoke again, and said, "Do not be afraid, Mary. The Lord has given to you his favor, and has chosen you to be the mother of a son whose name shall be Jesus, which means "salvation," because he shall save his people from their sins. He shall be great; and shall be called the Son of God; and the Lord shall give to him the throne of his father David. He shall be a king; and shall reign over the people of God forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

But Mary could not see how all this was to come to pass. And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High God shall be over you; and the holy child which you shall have shall be called the Son of God."

And when Mary heard all this she said, "I am the servant of the Lord, to do his will. Let it be to me as you have said."

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