God’s angel, Gabriel, on a personal visit (not by a dream), had explained that, by holy spirit, she would conceive in her womb, and that “what is born will be called holy, God’s Son.” (Luke 1:26-38) From that moment, she was keenly sensitive to the fact that she was indeed “highly favored” of Jehovah. In a most unique and intimate way she was brought within the inner circle of his favor, and she was determined to stay there.

More than that, a few weeks later, when that even more wonderful inner circle was being formed with that little company at Jerusalem, she was there and was included in their number. That small band was chosen by God to form the nucleus of the Christian congregation, the start of a “new creation.”​—John 19:25-27; Acts 1:14; 2 Cor. 5:17.