Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, FORASMUCH AS MANY HAVE TAKEN IN HAND TO SET FORTH IN ORDER A DECLARATION, [ epecheireesan (G2021) anataxasthai (G392) dieegeesin (G1335)] - 'have undertaken to draw u... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; EVEN AS THEY DELIVERED THEM UNTO US, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING [ ap' (G575) archees (G746) - that is, of Christ's ministry], were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word, [ autoptai (G845)... [ Continue Reading ]
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, IT SEEMED GOOD TO ME ALSO, HAVING HAD PERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF [ pareekoloutheekoti (G3877 ) - RATHER, 'HAVING CLOSELY FOLLOWED,' OR 'TRACED ALON... [ Continue Reading ]
That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW - [`know thoroughly' epignoos (G1921)] - the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed, [ kateecheethees (G2727)] - 'orally instructed;' i:e., as a catechumen, or c... [ Continue Reading ]
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. THERE WAS, IN THE DAYS OF HEROD THE KING OF JUDEA (SEE THE NOTE AT ), A CERTAIN PRIEST NAMED ZACHARIAS, OF THE COURS... [ Continue Reading ]
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. AND THEY WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS - not merely virtuous before men, but righteous BEFORE GOD who searcheth the heart. What that comprehended is next explained. WALKING - a familiar Bibli... [ Continue Reading ]
And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. AND THEY HAD NO CHILD, BECAUSE THAT ELIZABETH WAS BARREN; AND THEY BOTH WERE NOW WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS. This quiet couple have one trial. Almost everyone has some crook in his lot; but here... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, WHILE HE EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE BEFORE GOD IN THE ORDER OF HIS COURSE,... [ Continue Reading ]
According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OR THE PRIEST'S OFFICE, HIS LOT WAS TO BURN INCENSE WHEN HE WENT INTO THE TEMPLE. The part assigned to each priest during his week of service was decided by... [ Continue Reading ]
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE WERE PRAYING WITHOUT - outside the court fronting the temple, where stood the altar of burnt offering; the men and women worshipping in separate courts, but the altar visible... [ Continue Reading ]
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD - not while at home, but in the act of discharging his sacerdotal duties; yet not when engaged outside at the altar of burnt offering, but during... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. AND WHEN ZACHARIAS SAW HIM, HE WAS TROUBLED [`DISCOMPOSED,'] AND FEAR FELL UPON HIM. And what wonder? The unseen world is so veiled from us, and so different from ours in its nature and laws, that when in any of its features it... [ Continue Reading ]
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. BUT THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, FEAR NOT. Thus by two familiar endeared, exhilarating words, was the silence of four centuries broken, and thus... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. AND THOU SHALT HAVE JOY AND GLADNESS [`EXULTATION,'] AND MANY SHALL REJOICE - i:e., shall have sense to rejoice AT HIS BIRTH - through whose ministry they were "turned to the Lord their God.... [ Continue Reading ]
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. FOR HE SHALL BE GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD - i:e., great officially beyond all the prophets that went before him (as is evid... [ Continue Reading ]
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. AND MANY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL HE TURN TO THE LORD THEIR GOD.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. AND HE SHALL GO BEFORE HIM - i:e., before "the Lord their God" just spoken of; showing that... [ Continue Reading ]
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. AND ZACHARIAS SAID UNTO THE ANGEL, WHEREBY [ kata (G2596 ) ti (G5101 )] SHALL I KNOW THIS? FOR I AM AN OLD MAN, AND MY WIFE WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS. Had such a promise never been... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. AND THE ANGEL ANSWERING SAID UNTO HIM, I AM GABRIEL - `man of God' [ Gaabriy'eel (H1403)]. He appeared to Daniel, and at the same time of i... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. AND, BEHOLD, THOU SHALT BE DUMB [`SPEECHLESS' sioopoon (G4623 )] UNTIL THE DAY THAT THESE THINGS SHALL BE PER... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. AND THE PEOPLE WAITED FOR ZACHARIAS - to receive from him the usual benediction (). AND MARVELED THAT HE TARRIED SO LONG IN THE TEMPLE. It was not usual to tarry long, lest it should be thought vengeance... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. AND WHEN HE CAME OUT, HE COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO THEM: AND THEY PERCEIVED THAT HE HAD SEEN A VISION IN THE TEMPLE: FOR HE BECKONED UNTO... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, AS SOON AS THE DAYS OF HIS MINISTRATION WERE ACCOMPLISHED, HE DEPARTED TO HIS OWN HOUSE.... [ Continue Reading ]
And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, AND ELIZABETH CONCEIVED, AND HID HERSELF FIVE MONTHS - that is, until the event was put beyond doubt. SAYING,... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. THUS HATH THE LORD DEALT WITH ME IN THE DAYS WHEREIN HE LOOKED ON ME, TO TAKE AWAY MY REPROACH AMONG MEN. There was here more than true womanly simplicity and gratitude to the Lord for the g... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, AND IN THE SIXTH MONTH OF ELIZABETH'S CONCEPTION THE ANGEL GABRIEL WAS SENT FROM GOD. I could envy thee, O Gabriel, these most exalted of all errands. But I remember that true greatness lies, not i... [ Continue Reading ]
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. TO A VIRGIN ESPOUSED [RATHER 'BETROTHED' memneesteumeneen (G3423 )] TO A MAN WHOSE NAME WAS JOSEPH, OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. See the note at Matthew 1:16. AND THE VIRGIN'S NAME WAS MARY, ... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. AND THE ANGEL CAME IN UNTO HER, AND SAID, HAIL! HIGHLY FAVOURED - a word [ kecharitoomenee (G5487)] only once used elsewhere (Ephesians 1:6, "made accepted"). That... [ Continue Reading ]
And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. AND WHEN SHE SAW HIM, SHE WAS TROUBLED ...... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HER, FEAR NOT ...... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. AND, BEHOLD, THOU SHALT CONCEIVE IN THY WOMB, AND BRING FORTH A SON, AND SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS. See the notes at Matthew 1:21,32-33 . HE SHALL BE GREAT ... The whole of this magnificent ann... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE SHALL BE GREAT, AND SHALL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE HIGHEST: AND THE LORD GOD SHALL GIVE UNTO HIM THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID:_ No JFB commentary on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. AND HE SHALL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB - (God's visible people, who then stood in Jacob's descendants,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? THEN SAID MARY ... HOW SHALL THIS BE, SEEING I KNOW NOT A MAN? There was here none of the unbelief of Zacharias. On the contrary taking the fact for granted, the simple import of the question seems to be-On what principle... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. AND THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HER, THE HOLY SPIRIT SHALL COME UPON... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. AND, BEHOLD, THY COUSIN - rather, 'relative' [ sungenees (G4773)]; for how nearly they were related the word does not decide. Though Elizabeth was of the... [ Continue Reading ]
For with God nothing shall be impossible. FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE - reminding her, for her encouragement, of what had been said to Abraham in like case (Genesis 18:14.) The future tense here employed [ adunateesei (G101)], "shall be impossible," is designed to express an endurin... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. AND MARY SAID, BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD; BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD. Marvellous faith, in the teeth of natural law, and in a matter which to one betrothed and alr... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; AND MARY AROSE IN THOSE DAYS, AND WENT INTO THE HILL COUNTRY - a mountain-range, running north to south from the one extremity of Palestine to the other, in a parallel course to the Jordan, and nearly d... [ Continue Reading ]
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. AND ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS, AND SALUTED ELIZABETH - now returned from her seclusion (Luke AND ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS, AND SALUTED ELIZABETH - now returned from her seclusion ().... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, WHEN ELIZABETH HEARD THE SALUTATION, THE BABE LEAPED IN HER WOMB. That this was like nothing of the same kind which she ha... [ Continue Reading ]
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. AND SHE SPAKE OUT. This word [ anefooneese (G400)] is often used classically of persons who burst into poetic exclamations: WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND SAID, BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOM... [ Continue Reading ]
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? AND WHENCE IS THIS TO ME, THAT THE MOTHER OF MY LORD SHOULD COME TO ME? What beautiful superiority to envy have we here? High as was the distinction conferred upon herself, Elizabeth loses sight of it altogether, in presence... [ Continue Reading ]
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. FOR, LO, AS SOON ...... [ Continue Reading ]
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. AND BLESSED IS SHE THAT BELIEVED: FOR [ hoti (G3754)] THERE SHALL BE A PERFORMANCE OF THOSE OF THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD HER FROM THE LORD - or, rather perhaps (as in margin) "Bless... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, AND MARY SAID - Magnificent canticle! in which the strain of Hannah's ancient song, in like circumstances, is caught up, and just slightly modified and sublimed. Is it unnatural to suppose that the spirit of the blessed Virgin had been drawn beforehan... [ Continue Reading ]
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. AND MY SPIRIT - or, "all that is within me" (), HATH REJOICED IN GOD MY SAVIOUR. Mary never dreamt, we see, of her 'own immaculate conception'-to use the offensive language of the Romanists-anymore than of her own immaculate life.... [ Continue Reading ]
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. FOR HE HATH REGARDED THE LOW ESTATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN - for the family of David was now very low in Israel (as predicted, ). FOR, BEHOLD, FROM HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS S... [ Continue Reading ]
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. FOR HE THAT IS MIGHTY HATH DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS ... Verse 50. AND HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. Verse 51. HE HATH SHOWED STRENGTH WITH HIS ARM ... Verse 52. HE HATH PUT DOWN THE M... [ Continue Reading ]
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; HE HATH HOLPEN HIS SERVANT ISRAEL, IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIS MERCY. Compare , "I have laid help on One that is mighty.... [ Continue Reading ]
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. (AS HE SPAKE TO OUR FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM) - These words should be read as a parenthesis, "(to Abraham)" - that is, in remembrance of His mercy to Abraham, AND TO HIS SEED FOREVER. See the note at , and cf. ; .... [ Continue Reading ]
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. AND MARY ABODE WITH HER ABOUT THREE MONTHS - that is, until there should be visible evidence of the fulfillment of the promise regarding her, AND RETURNED TO HER OWN HOUSE - at Nazareth. She had not yet been taken home... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. NOW ELIZABETH'S FULL TIME CAME ... AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH A SON.... [ Continue Reading ]
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. AND HER NEIGHBOURS ... REJOICED WITH HER.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON THE EIGHTH DAY THEY CAME TO CIRCUMCISE THE CHILD. The law which required circumcision to be performed on the eighth day (Genesi... [ Continue Reading ]
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. AND HIS MOTHER ANSWERED AND SAID, NOT SO; BUT HE SHALL BE CALLED JOHN ... AND THEY MADE SIGNS TO HIS FATHER, HOW HE WOULD HAVE HIM CALLED - showing that he was deaf as well as dumb. AND HE ASKED FOR A WRITING TABLE, AND WRO... [ Continue Reading ]
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. AND HIS MOUTH WAS OPENED IMMEDIATELY, AND HIS TONGUE LOOSED - on his thus showing how entirely the unbelief for which he had been truck dumb had passed away. Probably it ceased immediately on his receivin... [ Continue Reading ]
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. AND FEAR-OR A RELIGIOUS AWE, CAME ON ALL THAT DWELT ROUND ABOUT THEM - under the conviction that God's hand was specially in these events (cf. ; ). AND ALL THES... [ Continue Reading ]
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. AND ALL THEY THAT HEARD THEM LAID UP IN THEIR HEARTS, SAYING, WHAT MANNER OF CHILD SHALL THIS BE! Yet there is every reason to believe that long before Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, AND ZACHARIAS WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND PROPHESIED - or, spoke by inspiration, according to the Scripture sense of that term. It did not necessarily include the prediction of future events, though here it... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, BLESSED. There is not a word in this noble burst of divine song about his own relationship to this child, nor about the child at all, until it has expended itself upon Christ. Like rapt Elizabeth, Zacharias loses sig... [ Continue Reading ]
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; AND HATH RAISED UP AN HORN OF SALVATION FOR US - that is, a 'strength of salvation,' or 'a mighty salvation;' meaning the Saviour Himself, whom Simeon in his song calls "Thy Salvation" (). The metaphor is taken fro... [ Continue Reading ]
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: AS HE SPAKE BY THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS, WHICH HAVE BEEN SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN - or, from the earliest period.... [ Continue Reading ]
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED FROM OUR ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF ALL THAT HATE US;... [ Continue Reading ]
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; TO PERFORM THE MERCY PROMISED TO OUR FATHERS, AND TO REMEMBER HIS HOLY COVENANT,... [ Continue Reading ]
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, THE OATH WHICH HE SWARE TO OUR FATHER ABRAHAM. The whole work of Messiah, and the kingdom He was to establish on the earth, are represented here as a mercy promised, and pledged on oath, to Abraham and his seed, to be at an appointed period - "the f... [ Continue Reading ]
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, THAT HE WOULD GRANT UNTO US, THAT WE, BEING DELIVERED OUT OF THE HAND OF OUR ENEMIES, MIGHT SERVE HIM WITHOUT FEAR,... [ Continue Reading ]
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE HIM, ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE. How rich and comprehensive is the view here given of Messiah's work! First, the grand purpose of redemption - "that we should serve Him," that is, "the Lord God... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; Here are the dying echoes of this song: and very beautiful are these closing notes-like the setting sun, shorn indeed of its noon-tide radiance, but skirting the horizon... [ Continue Reading ]
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG [ eeuxanen (G837 ) kai (G2532 ) ekrataiouto (G2901 )] IN SPIRIT. The grammatical tenses here employed denote the continuance of the action-`kept gr... [ Continue Reading ]