Matthew Henry Commentary Luke 1:57-66

"Now Elisabeth`s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, blessing God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him." — Luke 1:57-66 (ASV)

In these verses, we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist and the great joy among all the relatives of the family. He was to be called Johanan, or “Gracious,” because he would bring in the gospel of Christ, in which God's grace shines most brightly.

Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief had closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believed, and therefore he spoke. When God opens our lips, our mouths must declare his praise; indeed, it is better to be without speech than not to use it in praising God.

It is said that the hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working with children in their infancy that we cannot explain. We should observe God's dealings and await the outcome.