Chapter 4

1An Angel appears to Anna and tells her she shall conceive; two angels appear to her on the same errand. 5 Joachim sacrifices. 8 Anna goes to meet him, 9 rejoicing that she shall conceive . THEN an angel of the Lord stood by her and said, Anna, Anna, the Lord hath heard thy prayer; thou shalt conceive and bring forth, and thy progeny shall be spoken of in all the world.
2And Anna answered, As the Lord my God liveth, whatever I bring forth, whether it be male or female, I will devote it to the Lord my God, and it shall minister to him in holy things, during its whole life.
3And behold there appeared two angels, saying unto her, Behold Joachim thy husband is coming with his shepherds.
4For an angel of the Lord hath also come down to him, and said, The Lord God hath heard thy prayer, make haste and go hence, for behold Anna thy wife shall conceive.
5And Joachim went down and called his shepherds, saying Bring me hither ten she-lambs without spot or blemish, and they shall be for the Lord my God.
6And bring me twelve calves without blemish, and the twelve calves shall be for the priests and the elders.
7Bring me also a hundred goats, and the hundred goats shall be for the whole people.
8And Joachim went down with the shepherds, and Anna stood by the gate and saw Joachim coming with the shepherds.
9And she ran, and hanging about his neck, said, Now I know that the Lord hath greatly blessed me:
10For behold, I who was a widow am no longer a widow, and I who was barren shall conceive.