Luke 1:1-4
THE PREFACE TO THE GOSPEL. Luke 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PREFACE TO THE GOSPEL. Luke 1:1... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH AS MANY HAVE TAKEN IN HAND TO SET FORTH IN ORDER A DECLARATION OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US,... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS THEY DELIVERED THEM UNTO US, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING WERE EYEWITNESSES AND MINISTERS OF THE WORD,... [ 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,... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW THE CERTAINTY OF THOSE THINGS WHEREIN THOU HAST BEEN INSTRUCTED. Inasmuch as, since, seeing as is well known: the strong particle implies that the fact which the evangelist is about to state is well known, that it is important, and that it introduces the reason why Luke enter... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS IN THE DAYS OF HEROD, THE KING OF JUDEA, A CERTAIN PRIEST NAMED ZACHARIAS, OF THE COURSE OF ABIA; AND HIS WIFE WAS OF THE DAUGHTERS OF AARON, AND HER NAME WAS ELISABETH.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST'S BIRTH. The parents of John:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES OF THE LORD BLAMELESS.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY HAD NO CHILD, BECAUSE THAT ELISABETH WAS BARREN, AND THEY BOTH WERE NOW WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS. There was or lived in the days when Herod the Great was king of Judea. Luke is very careful and exact in all his references to secular history, and therefore his statements are so generally trust... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT, WHILE HE EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE BEFORE GOD IN THE ORDER OF HIS COURSE,... [ Continue Reading ]
Zacharias in the Temple:... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE WERE PRAYING WITHOUT AT THE TIME OF INCENSE. It so happened, or rather it came about by God's dispensation and government, that Zacharias was serving in his priestly office. In the course of time, as it happened twice a year in the Jewish calendar, his order or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE.... [ Continue Reading ]
The angel messenger:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN ZACHARIAS SAW HIM, HE WAS TROUBLED, AND FEAR FELL UPON HIM.... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT HAVE JOY AND GLADNESS; AND MANY SHALL REJOICE AT HIS BIRTH.... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. While Zacharias was engaged in the work of his ministry, while the fumes of the incense in the c... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
The doubts of Zacharias:... [ 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 SHOW THEE THESE GLAD TIDINGS.... [ 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. The announcement of the angel and the enthusiasm with which he delivered his message overwhelmed the aged priest.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE WAITED FOR ZACHARIAS, AND MARVELED THAT HE TARRIED SO LONG IN THE TEMPLE.... [ Continue Reading ]
The anxiety of the people:... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT, AS SOON AS THE DAYS OF HIS MINISTRATION WERE ACCOMPLISHED, HE DEPARTED TO HIS OWN HOUSE. The offering of incense was the culmination of the morning service during which Zacharias was in the Holy Place all alone. The people were always apprehensive of some disaster that migh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THOSE DAYS HIS WIFE ELISABETH CONCEIVED, AND HID HERSELF FIVE MONTHS, SAYING,... [ Continue Reading ]
The beginning of the fulfillment:... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS HATH THE LORD DEALT WITH ME IN THE DAYS WHEREIN HE LOOKED ON ME, TO TAKE AWAY MY REPROACH AMONG MEN. In His season God remembered Elisabeth and her husband. The aged wife had evidence that her prayers at last seemed about to be heard. The result of this knowledge was that she hid herself entire... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE SIXTH MONTH THE ANGEL GABRIEL WAS SENT FROM GOD UNTO A CITY OF GALILEE, NAMED NAZARETH,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ANNUNCIATION TO MARY. Gabriel's visit to Nazareth:... [ 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. In the sixth month after the Lord had remembered Elisabeth to carry out a part of His design and prophecy for the sake of fallen mankind, He made preparations for a still more wonderful event,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL CAME IN UNTO HER AND SAID, HAIL, THOU THAT ART HIGHLY FAVORED, THE LORD IS WITH THEE; BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN.... [ Continue Reading ]
The message of the angel:... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HER, FEAR NOT, MARY; FOR THOU HAST FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, THOU SHALT CONCEIVE IN THY WOMB AND BRING FORTH A SON, AND SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS.... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB FOREVER; AND OF HIS KINGDOM THERE SHALL BE NO END. The first message of the New Testament was given in the secrecy of the Holy Place in the Temple, the second in the seclusion of a virgin's home in Nazareth. The beautiful greeting of the angel on this occas... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID MARY UNTO THE ANGEL, HOW SHALL THIS BE, SEEING I KNOW NOT A MAN?... [ Continue Reading ]
The explanation of the miracle:... [ 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.... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE.... [ 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. Mary had received wonderful, overwhelming news, such as she could hardly be expected to grasp and comprehend, that she, the unknown, poor maiden, should be the mother of the Messiah;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY AROSE IN THOSE DAYS AND WENT INTO THE HILL COUNTRY WITH HASTE, INTO A CITY OF JUDA,... [ Continue Reading ]
MARY'S VISIT TO ELISABETH. The salutation of Mary and Elisabeth's answer:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS, AND SALUTED ELISABETH.... [ 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;... [ 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHENCE IS THIS TO ME THAT THE MOTHER OF MY LORD SHOULD COME TO ME?... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR, LO, AS SOON AS THE VOICE OF THY SALUTATION SOUNDED IN MINE EARS, THE BABE LEAPED IN MY WOMB FOR JOY.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLESSED IS SHE THAT BELIEVED; FOR THERE SHALL BE A PERFORMANCE OF THOSE THING'S WHICH WERE TOLD HER FROM THE LORD. In those same days Mary got ready for a visit to her kinswoman, for the news of the angel had filled her with joy. She lost no time in journeying up into the mountainous country of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY SAID, MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD,... [ Continue Reading ]
The hymn of Mary:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND RAY SPIRIT HATH REJOICED IN GOD, MY SAVIOR.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH REGARDED THE LOW ESTATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN; FOR, BEHOLD, FROM HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT IS MIGHTY HATH DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS; AND HOLY IS HIS NAME.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. The salutation of Elisabeth had filled Mary with the highest joy, with the happiness of faith, it stimulated her to a song which breathes the spirit of humble faith, giving all glory to God alone. Note: So thoroughly familiar was... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SHOWED STRENGTH WITH HIS ARM; HE HATH SCATTERED THE PROUD IN THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR HEARTS.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR SEATS, AND EXALTED THEM OF LOW DEGREE.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS, AND THE RICH HE HATH SENT EMPTY AWAY.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH HOLPEN HIS SERVANT ISRAEL IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIS MERCY;... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SPAKE TO OUR FATHERS, TO ABRAHAM, AND TO HIS SEED FOREVER.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY ABODE WITH HER ABOUT THREE MONTHS, AND RETURNED TO HER OWN HOUSE. Mary praises the strength of God's arm, which He has made manifest. He has scattered into all the winds those that were proud and arrogant in the imagination of their own hearts. Those that rise up in haughty dependence upon... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ELISABETH'S FULL TIME CAME THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED; AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH, A SON.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. The birth and circumcision of John:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HER NEIGHBORS AND HER COUSINS HEARD HOW THE LORD HAD SHOWED, GREAT MERCY UPON HER; AND THEY 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MOTHER ANSWERED AND SAID, NAT SO; BUT HE SHALL BE CALLED JOHN.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID UNTO HER, THERE IS NONE OF THY KINDRED THAT IS CALLED BY THIS NAME.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY MADE SIGNS TO HIS FATHER HOW HE WOULD HAVE HIM CALLED.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ASKED FOR A WRITING-TABLE, AND WROTE, SAYING, HIS NAME IS JOHN. AND THEY MARVELED ALL. For Elisabeth the time was now fulfilled, according to the promise of God and the course of nature. A son was born to the aged parents, as God had promised through the angel. Now Elisabeth no longer hid her... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MOUTH WAS OPENED IMMEDIATELY, AND HIS TONGUE LOOSED, AND HE SPAKE, AND PRAISED GOD.... [ Continue Reading ]
Further events:... [ 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 JUDEA.... [ 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. Two strange things connected with the story of John have been noted: The fact that the child was the son of parents past the age of bearing children, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS FATHER ZACHARIAS WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND PROPHESIED, SAYING,... [ Continue Reading ]
A hymn of praise:... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL; FOR HE HATH VISITED AND REDEEMED HIS PEOPLE,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH RAISED UP AN HORN OF SALVATION FOR US IN THE HOUSE OF HIS SERVANT DAVID;... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SPAKE BY THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS, WHICH HAVE BEEN SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN:... [ Continue Reading ]
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;... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OATH WHICH HE SWARE TO OUR FATHER ABRAHAM... [ Continue Reading ]
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. We have here another wonderful hymn of praise and prophecy couched, for the most part, in terms of the Old Testament songs of praise. The Holy Ghost Himself, speaking through the mouth of Zacharias, was its author. Luther has writte... [ 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;... [ Continue Reading ]
A hymn of prophecy:... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION UNTO HIS PEOPLE BY THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS,... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE TENDER MERCY OF OUR GOD; WHEREBY THE DAYSPRING FROM ON HIGH HATH VISITED US,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH, TO GUIDE OUR FEET INTO THE WAY OF PEACE.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT, AND WAS IN THE DESERTS TILL THE DAY OF HIS SHOWING UNTO ISRAEL. From a contemplation of the wonderful gifts of the redemption Zacharias turns to a prophecy concerning the future of the son that had been born to him according to the promise of the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]