34 So Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I do not know a man?"*Zacharias expressed doubt, but Mary simply requests some necessary information. She has understood that God wants her to be the Messiah’s mother—she was doubtless highly intelligent and perceptive. (In the Bible the verb ‘to know’ is used to refer to sexual intercourse.). 35 In answer the angel said to her: "Holy Spirit*The Text does not have a definite article with ‘Holy Spirit’. will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will be called ‘Son of God’!*Literally so—the Holy Spirit supplied the genes that normally are supplied by a human father. 36 Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 because any word spoken by God will be possible." 38 So Mary said: "Yes, I am the Lord’s slave! Let it happen to me according to your word."*Mary had to understand the proposal and be in full agreement, or she would not have been a good mother. And the angel departed from her.