_Forasmuch as many have taken in hand_ Who they were to whom the apostle here alludes, who had, from vague reports, (for so his words seem to imply,) rashly published narratives not entirely to be depended on, it is impossible for us now to discover. It is true, the word επεχειρησαν, _have undertake... [ Continue Reading ]
_It seemed good to me also_ That is, I have judged it to be my duty; Luke, doubtless, was moved by the Holy Ghost to write his history, as he was also to write in the manner he has done; but in both he was moved as a reasonable creature, and not as a machine: _having had perfect understanding of all... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea_ This is he who is commonly known by the name of _Herod the Great_, a cruel, ambitious man, who, without any title, obtained the crown of Judea from the Roman senate, to whom he was recommended by Mark Antony. Under his government the Jews were very... [ Continue Reading ]
_They were righteous before God_ They were sincerely and really righteous; they were so in God's sight, whose judgment, we are sure, is according to truth; they approved themselves to him who searcheth the heart; and he was graciously pleased to accept them. It is a happy thing when those that are j... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they had no child_ The providence of God so ordering it, that the birth of John the Baptist might be the more remarkable, and might excite the greater attention; _because that Elisabeth was barren_ Even when in the flower of her age. _And they both were now well stricken in years_ Here, then, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_His lot was to burn incense_ “Because some parts of the sacred service were more honourable than others, both the priests and Levites divided the whole among them by lot. The Jews tell us, that there were three priests employed about the service of the incense; one who carried away the ashes left o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The whole multitude of the people_, &c. The manner in which the evangelist expresses himself here, shows that a more than ordinary concourse of the people was in the temple on this occasion, from which we may infer that it was a sabbath, or some high festival time; for often on ordinary week-days,... [ Continue Reading ]
_There appeared unto him an angel_ About four hundred years had passed since God had vouchsafed to his ancient people any supernatural communication, either by prophecy, the ministry of angels, or in any other extraordinary way. But as he was now about to send them the Messiah, and establish through... [ Continue Reading ]
_But the angel said, Fear not_, &c. Thus encouraging him with great gentleness of aspect and voice. _For thy prayer is heard_ I do not come unto thee with a message of terror, but am sent to assure thee, _thy prayer is heard, and thy wife shall bear thee a son_ “No doubt this good man had often pray... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt have joy and gladness_ He shall be such a son as thou shalt have reason to rejoice in. As if he had said, Many parents, if they could foresee what their children will prove, instead of rejoicing at their birth, would wish they had never been. But I will tell thee what thy son will be; an... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall go before him_ Namely, before Christ; _in the spirit and power of Elias_ With the same integrity, courage, austerity, and fervour, and the same power of God attending his word. The son of Zacharias equalled, if not exceeded, Elijah in zeal for God, in severity of manners, in fortitude, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zacharias said, Whereby shall I know this?_ In how different a spirit did the blessed Virgin say, _How shall this be?_ Zacharias disbelieved the prediction, as appears from Luke 1:20, and therefore was justly punished: Mary had no doubt of the fulfilment of what was foretold, but only inquired conc... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the people_ Who had been praying in the court of the temple, while the incense was burning; _waited for Zacharias_ To come out and bless them; for so the priests used to do after burning the incense; _and marvelled that he tarried so long_, εν τω χρονιζειν αυτον, _at his delaying_, or, _spendin... [ Continue Reading ]
_As soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished_ Though he was both deaf and dumb, he was still able to burn incense, and perform the other duties of his office. He therefore continued at the temple till the time of his ministration was ended; when he returned to his house; which is gener... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the sixth month_ Namely, after Elisabeth had conceived; _the angel Gabriel_ The same angel who had been the messenger of such good news to Zacharias; _was sent from God unto a city of Galilee_ A country which lay “in the most northern part of Palestine, and was bounded on the north by Lebanon an... [ Continue Reading ]
_The angel said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured_ Greek, Κεχαριτωμενη, _who hast found mercy_, or favour, with God, as it is explained, Luke 1:30. _The Lord is with thee_ Or, _The Lord be with thee_, as Dr. Campbell renders Κυριος μετα σου : _Blessed art thou among women_ That is, according to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_When she saw him she was troubled_ Διεταραχθη, _disturbed_ or _perplexed; at his saying_ A salutation so unusual from a being of a superior order (for such his form, which was more than human, bespoke him to be) put Mary into a great perturbation of spirit; and no wonder; for if Zacharias, a venera... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb_ Though a virgin, strange to say, thou shalt have the honour of being a mother; thou shalt _bring forth a son_, and that son no ordinary person, but the restorer of human nature, and Saviour of the world; and therefore _thou shalt call his name Jesus_ Or _Jos... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Mary, How shall this be_ How can I immediately conceive a child, (for so the angel meant, and so she understood him to mean,) _seeing I know not a man?_ This was not the language of distrust, or of doubt, respecting what the angel said, but of a desire to be further instructed, for the di... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mary arose in those days_ That is, soon after the time that she had received the extraordinary message mentioned above; _and went into the hill-country_ Where Elisabeth dwelt, although it was at least seventy miles distant from Nazareth. It is probable she was eager to know the certainty of her cou... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Mary said_ Under a prophetic impulse, several things which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand. Having heard Elisabeth speak, as above related, she likewise was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence uttered extempore a hymn, remarkable for the beauty of its style, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that is mighty_ Beyond all our conceptions, even the Almighty God, to whom this strange event is not only possible, but easy; _hath done to me great things Miracles_, as the words μεγαλα and μεγαλεια often signify in the Old Testament, being applied by the LXX. to the miracles wrought in Egypt,... [ Continue Reading ]
_He hath put down the mighty from their seats_ The mighty think to secure themselves by might in their seats, but he puts them down and overturns their seats; while, on the other hand, those of low degree, who despaired of ever advancing themselves, and thought of nothing else but being very low, ar... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Elisabeth's full time came_ Exactly according to the prediction of the angel; _that she should be delivered_ Though this child was conceived in the womb by a miracle, he continued in the womb according to the ordinary course of nature, as did our Saviour also. Promised mercies are to be expecte... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost_ Was endued with a more than ordinary measure of the Spirit of God, supernaturally enlightening his mind in the knowledge of divine things: and even of future events. God not only forgave him his unbelief and distrust, which was signified by discharging... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be the Lord God of Israel_ Who is also the God of the spirits of all flesh: but Zacharias, speaking of the work of redemption calls him only the God of Israel, because to Israel the prophecies, promises, and types of redemption, had hitherto been given, and to them the first offers and prop... [ Continue Reading ]
_That we should be saved from our enemies_ Spiritual as well as temporal, invisible as well as visible; _and from the hand of all that hate us_ From Satan and his angels, and all adverse power, and especially from our sins. This certainly was the mind of the Spirit that now inspired Zacharias, as ap... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thou child_ He now speaks to John his son, yet not as a parent, but as a prophet; _shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest_ Thou shalt be the messenger of God Most High. Our Lord declares that John was _more than a prophet:_ that is, he was a great preacher of righteousness, who called aloud... [ Continue Reading ]
_To give light to them that sit in darkness_ The Messiah at his coming would enlighten with the knowledge of salvation the Gentile nations, who had long lived in ignorance and wickedness, the cause of death. _To guide our feet into the way of peace_ And he would guide the feet, even of the Jews, int... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the child grew_, &c. The years of John's infancy expiring, he grew daily in wisdom and stature; _and was in the deserts_, &c. During the whole course of his private life, he continued in the deserts, or hill- country of Judea, Luke 1:39, till his ministry commenced, about the thirtieth year of... [ Continue Reading ]