59 On the eighth day they circumcised the child. They planned to call him Zechariah, after the name of the father.60 His mother spoke up and said: »He shall be called John.«61 They all said: »None of your relatives are called by this name.«62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, »His name is John.« They were all amazed.64 Immediately his tongue loosed, his mouth opened and he spoke, blessing God.