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After the birth of John, at the time of his circumcision, Zechariah recovered his speech. His hymn of blessing and prophecy, traditionally called the “Benedictus” (vv.68-79), affirms that John will be the herald of the promised Messiah. Luke’s account of John’s growth (v.80) resembles the description of the growth of Samuel (1Sa 2:21, 26), to whom John as well as Jesus appears to be likened.