Ver. 1. FORASMUCH AS MANY HAVE TAKEN IN HAND,.... From hence, to the end of Luke 1:4 is a preface of the evangelist to his Gospel, setting forth the reasons of his writing it; and which he wrote and sent to the excellent Theophilus, for the further confirmation of him in the faith of Christ. It seem... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS THEY DELIVERED THEM UNTO US,.... By whom the evangelist means, as appears from the after description of them, the twelve apostles, and seventy disciples; who handed down to others the accounts of the birth, life, and death of Christ; and according to which the above Christians proposed to wr... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SEEMED GOOD TO ME ALSO,.... Being moved to it by the Holy Ghost; for he did not undertake this work of himself, merely by the motion of his own will, but was influenced, and directed to it by the Spirit of God, as well as by him assisted in it: HAVING HAD PERFECT UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THINGS; rel... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW THE CERTAINTY,.... The end the evangelist had in writing this Gospel, and sending it to Theophilus, was, that he might be more strongly assured of and more firmly established in the truths of the Gospel. The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions render it, "that thou mig... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS IN THE DAYS OF HEROD, THE KING OF JUDEA,.... This was Herod, the son of Antipater, sometimes called Herod the Great, and is rightly here said to be the king of Judea; for, by deputation from the Roman emperor, he had the government of all Judea, which upon his death was divided among his s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE BOTH RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD,.... Not as the Pharisees, only righteous before men, but in the sight of God, who sees the heart, and whose judgment is according to truth; and therefore were not justified by the deeds of the law; for by them no man can be justified in the sight of God; but... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY HAD NO CHILD,.... Son or daughter: and which was accounted a great infelicity: but this was not owing to the judgment of God upon them for any sins they had been guilty of, as the above character of them shows: and it had been the case of some righteous pairs before them for a great while,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHILE HE EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE,.... To which he was called and ordained, even to offer gifts and sacrifices for men; whilst he was in the way of his duty, when oftentimes God appears to, and in favour of his people; whilst he was performing it, BEFORE GOD; in the te... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF THE PRIEST'S OFFICE,.... In which, every man took his part in the execution of it by lot; and which was not an original settled law of God; but a custom, which, in process of time, through the number of the priests, took place, and prevailed: the occasion of it was this;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE WERE PRAYING WITHOUT,.... In the court of the Israelites, whilst Zacharias was in the holy place; though not in the holy of holies, where only the high priest entered: it looks, as Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, as if this was on a sabbath day, since there was such... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE APPEARED UNTO HIM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD,.... Gabriel, as seem's manifest from Luke 1:19 the same angel that had appeared to Daniel, about the time of the evening oblation, near five hundred years before, and gave him an account of the time of the Messiah's coming, Daniel 9:21. The Jews some... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN ZACHARIAS SAW HIM,.... The angel; he was troubled, and fear fell upon him; for such appearances of angels were not now so common as formerly: and when they were more usual, generally had such effects on the minds, even of good men; see Judges 6:22.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, FEAR NOT, ZACHARIAS,.... He calls him by his name; for holy men are known to angels in person, and by name; to whom they are ministering spirits, and for whose good they are concerned; and bid him not be afraid, as the angel also said to the women at Christ's sepulchre,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT HAVE JOY AND GLADNESS,.... Not only because of his having a son; but because this his son would be the prophet of the Highest; would go before the Lord, and prepare his ways; give knowledge of salvation to many, and light to them that were in darkness, and guide their feet in the way... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SHALL BE GREAT IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD,.... Of Jehovah, the Father; with whom, what is highly esteemed among men, is oftentimes an abomination; and of the Lord Jesus Christ, before whom he was to go, and who pronounced him a prophet, and more than a prophet, and even greater than any born of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... To whom only, or at least chiefly, he was sent, and came preaching, and administering the ordinance of baptism; and great multitudes of them flocked unto him, attended on his ministry, believed in his doctrine, and submitted to his baptism, but not all; for so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL GO BEFORE HIM,.... The Lord his God, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose forerunner he was; the messenger of him, that according to the prophecies in Isaiah 40:3 was to go before him, and prepare his ways; as he did by his wonderful conception and birth, which made way for the more easy belief... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ZACHARIAS SAID UNTO THE ANGEL, WHEREBY SHALL I KNOW THIS?.... Notwithstanding such an appearance of an angel to him, which in those times was not so usual, and this in the holy place; and the things themselves which were told him, and these as the return of prayer; yet he distrusted, and wanted... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL ANSWERING, SAID UNTO HIM, I AM GABRIEL,.... The name of an angel well known to Zacharias from Daniel's prophecies, Daniel 8:16 and is the first time we read of the name of an angel: the Jews say a, the names of angels came out of Babylon, by the means of the Israelites; and it was ther... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHOLD, THOU SHALT BE DUMB, C] OR "SILENT AND NOT ABLE TO SPEAK", IF HE WOULD. SILENCE IS SOMETIMES VOLUNTARY; BUT THIS WAS WHAT HE COULD NOT HELP;\PAR \PAR UNTIL THE DAY THAT THESE THING SHALL BE PERFORMED; which he had said concerning the conception and birth of a son, and the imposition of a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE WAITED FOR ZACHARIAS,.... That were without, in the court of the Israelites, praying there, while he was offering incense: these were waiting for his coming out, in order to be blessed by him, according to Numbers 6:23 and be dismissed: and marvelled that he tarried so long in the tem... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE CAME OUT, HE COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO THEM,.... Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for: AND THEY PERCEIVED THAT HE HAD SEEN A VISION IN THE TEMPLE: which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used: for he beckoned unto them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his han... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AS SOON AS THE DAYS OF HIS MINISTRATION,.... In the order of the course, which might be three, four, five, or six days, according to the number of the heads of the house of their fathers in the course; Luke 1:5 WERE ACCOMPLISHED: for though he was deaf and dumb, he was not... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THOSE DAYS,.... The days of his ministration in the temple, quickly after his return home; the Ethiopic version reads, "after two days": HIS WIFE ELISABETH CONCEIVED; according to the angels prediction, and notwithstanding her barrenness, and the unbelief of her husband; AND HID HERSELF... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS HATH THE LORD DEALT WITH ME,.... In a very gracious and bountiful manner; in giving her strength to conceive a son in her old age, and such an one that was to be great, and so useful in his day; of which her husband had doubtless informed her by writing, though he could not speak: IN THE DAYS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE SIXTH MONTH,.... After Elisabeth's conception; for so long was John the Baptist conceived before Christ, and so long he was born before him; and it seems as if there was the same distance between the public ministry of the one, and the other: John was before Christ, as man, being his fore... [ Continue Reading ]
TO A VIRGIN,.... A pure virgin, that never knew man; Luke 1:34 and yet ESPOUSED TO A MAN WHOSE NAME WAS JOSEPH; but they were not come together, nor had he taken her for his wife, and home to his house, nor had they cohabited: OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID; which, according to the grammatical constructio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL CAME IN UNTO HER,.... Into her house, and into the room where she was: AND SAID, HAIL; all health, happiness, and prosperity attend thee; Matthew 28:9 THOU ART HIGHLY FAVOURED; or graciously accepted, or hast obtained grace; not referring to electing, redeeming; justifying, pardonin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN SHE SAW HIM,.... The Persic version renders it, "when Mary saw the angel"; which expresses the true sense of the words, The Vulgate Latin reads, "when she heard"; i.e. the salutation: SHE WAS TROUBLED AT HIS SAYING; at his speaking to her; she was surprised at the sight of him, and more at... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HER, c] Observing the consternation and confusion she was in FEAR NOT, MARY; he calls her by her name, signifying that she was well known to him, as the saints are to the ministering angels, who are often sent unto them, encamp about them, and do them many good offices; and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHOLD THOU SHALT CONCEIVE IN THY WOMB,.... Though a pure virgin, which never knew a man; and therefore, "a behold", is prefixed to it, as being what was extraordinary and wonderful; as it is also, in the prophesy of it, in Isaiah 7:14 to which the angel manifestly refers, and is, by Matthew cit... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL BE GREAT,.... In his person, as God-man; this child born, and Son given, being the angel of the great counsel, the mighty God, and everlasting Father; Isaiah 9:6 which is here referred to; and in his offices, in his prophetic office, being that great and famous prophet Moses spoke of, might... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL REIGN OVER THE HOUSE OF JACOB,.... Not over the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, in a literal sense; but over the whole Israel of God, consisting of Jews and Gentiles. For as his father David reigned over the Idumeans, Syrians, and others, as well as over the house of Judah and Israel, so... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID MARY TO THE ANGEL, HOW SHALL THIS BE,.... This she said not as doubting the truth of what was said; for she required no sign, as Zacharias did; nor is she charged with, and blamed for unbelief, as he was; yea, it is expressly said, Luke 1:45 that she believed: nor was this a curious questi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HER,.... The angel gave her an account of the manner in which what he had said should be effected, as well as observed some things for the strengthening of her faith. THE HOLY GHOST SHALL COME UPON THEE. The words, "upon thee", are left out in the Syriac and Per... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHOLD THY COUSIN ELISABETH,.... For though Elisabeth was of the daughters of Aaron, or of the tribe of Levi by her father's side, yet might be of the tribe of Judah by her mother's side, and so akin to Mary. The Persic version calls her "aunt by the mother's side": intermarriages between the tw... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE. That is consistent with his nature and perfections, with his counsels, purposes, and promises: every thing that he has said, purposed, or promised, he is able to do, and will; every word that he has spoken, every thing predicted by his prophets, or declared... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY SAID, BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD,.... In which words she expresses her obedience of faith; she owns herself to be the handmaid of the Lord, and desires to obey him, and be submissive to him as such; and tacitly acknowledges her meanness, and great unworthiness: BE IT UNTO ME ACCORDING... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY AROSE IN THOSE DAYS,.... The Ethiopic version renders it, "in that day"; directly, immediately, as soon as the angel was gone from her; partly to know the truth of things, and to make use of the sign which had been given her, for the further confirmation of her faith, which was very right a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF ZACHARIAS, c] Which was in the above city, and might be well known to her: and saluted Elisabeth not Zacharias; either because he was not at home; or because he was deaf and dumb, and could neither hear her salutation, nor return it; or because it was not usual for wome... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT WHEN ELISABETH HEARD THE SALUTATION OF MARY,.... Which might be before she saw her, and at some little distance from her: THE BABE LEAPED IN HER WOMB: which motion was not natural, but supernatural; being made at hearing the voice of Mary, who had now conceived the Messiah,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SPAKE OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... So as that all in the house might hear; she spake with great vehemency of soul, and strength of affection, being under a very powerful impression of the Spirit of God: and said, BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN; the same words that the angel had said to her befo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHENCE IS THIS TO ME,..... How comes it to pass, that such notice is taken of me, such an honour is done me; that besides being favoured with a child, who shall be great, THAT THE MOTHER OF MY LORD SHOULD COME TO ME? Elisabeth was far from envying the superior honour conferred on her kinswoman,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR LO, AS SOON AS THE VOICE OF THY SALUTATION SOUNDED IN MINE EARS,.... This she mentions, as the signal by which she knew that she was the mother of her Lord; namely, from that unusual and extraordinary motion of the child, she felt within her: THE BABE LEAPED IN MY WOMB FOR JOY; that the mother... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLESSED IS SHE THAT BELIEVED..... Meaning Mary, a woman, a very young woman, and who had had things very incredible to nature and reason told her; and yet she believed, without objecting thereto, or requiring a sign; tacitly referring to the unbelief of Zacharias, who was a man, a man in years,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY SAID, MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD. Either Jehovah, the Father, or the Son; who, as he was David's Lord, according to his divine nature, though his son after the flesh, was, in the same sense, Mary's Lord, as well as her son: and by "magnifying" him is meant, not making him great, for he c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MY SPIRIT HATH REJOICED IN GOD MY SAVIOUR. Which also, may be understood, either of God the Father, who was her Saviour, both as the God of nature and providence; so the Persic version renders it, "in God that gives me life"; and who had supported, maintained, and preserved her life; and as the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE HATH REGARDED THE LOW ESTATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN,.... Meaning, either her outward temporal estate, which was very low and mean: David's family was now very much reduced, it had its seat not at Jerusalem, but at Nazareth, in Galilee: Mary, of that house, was a poor virgin, and Joseph, of the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE THAT IS MIGHTY HATH DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS,.... With respect to the incarnation of Christ, a new, a great, and unheard of thing; in causing her, though a virgin, to conceive; and also to bear such a Son, who should be called Jesus, a Saviour, Immanuel, God with us; and who was no other than... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM,.... Not with slavish fear of hell and damnation, but with reverence and godly fear; with a filial fear, with a reverential love of God, and affection for him; with that fear which springs from the goodness of God, which has that for its object, and is encourag... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SHOWED STRENGTH WITH HIS ARM,.... Of almighty power, in the business of the incarnation, and in working out salvation for his people; which is done by his own arm, he being mighty to save, and travelling in the greatness of his strength; see Isaiah 63:1. HE HATH SCATTERED THE PROUD IN THE... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR SEATS,.... As mighty kings and emperors from their thrones, as he often does, in the course of his providence; setting up one, and putting down another: or the mighty angels, from their seats of bliss and happiness in heaven; who rebelling against God, opposing... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS,.... Such as earnestly desired and longed after the coming of the Messiah, as good old Simeon, and Anna the prophetess; and those that looked for redemption in Israel, to whom she spake: and all such persons as heartily desire salvation by Christ, and breat... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH HOLPEN HIS SERVANT ISRAEL,.... Meaning, not the natural posterity of Jacob, or Israel in general, but the elect of God among them; for all were not Israel, who were of Israel; and not them only, but also the chosen ones among the Gentiles; who, with the former, make up the whole Israel of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SPAKE TO OUR FATHERS,.... To David, of whose family Mary was; and to Jacob, or Israel, of whose stock she was; and to Isaac, in whom the seed was to be, called; and particularly, TO ABRAHAM AND TO HIS SEED FOR EVER: not his natural, but his spiritual seed; both among Jews and Gentiles, to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MARY ABODE WITH HER ABOUT THREE MONTHS,.... That is, she continued with Elisabeth, as the Syriac and Persic versions express, about the space of three months; in which time, she had full satisfaction of the truth of the sign the angel had given her; namely, of Elisabeth's conception and pregnanc... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW ELISABETH'S FULL TIME CAME,.... The nine months, which is the full time of a woman's going with child, were now complete; for in the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy, or when she had been gone six months with child, the angel acquainted Mary with it, and she had stayed about three months wit... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HER NEIGHBOURS, AND HER COUSINS,.... That lived in Hebron, and the parts adjacent, whether of the house of Aaron, or of the tribe of Judah; to both which she was related, and who dwelt near her, the priests in the city of Hebron, and the children of Judah in the places about it: HEARD HOW THE L... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT ON THE EIGHTH DAY,.... The precise time fixed in the normal restitution of the ordinance of circumcision, Genesis 17:12 though this was not always attended to, but circumcision was sometimes deferred to another time; yet keeping the exact time was judged most commendable and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MOTHER ANSWERED AND SAID,.... That is, Elisabeth: NOT SO, BUT HE SHALL BE CALLED JOHN; knowing that this was the name wherewith the angel said he should be called; either by divine revelation, she being filled with the Holy Ghost, Luke 1:41 or by information of her husband, who, doubtless,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAID UNTO HER,.... Her neighbours and relations, there is none of thy kindred that is called by this name; from whence it appears, that it was usual to give names to children after their ancestors, relations, and friends. The Persic version renders it, "in thine Israel there is not any one... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY MADE SIGNS TO HIS FATHER,.... Who was deaf, as well as dumb; otherwise there would have been no occasion to have signs made to him: and so the word used, in Luke 1:20 signifies both deaf and dumb. These signs were made by hands or head; for such used to be made to a dumb man. According to t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ASKED FOR A WRITING TABLE,.... That is, he made signs for one, for as yet he could not speak. The Persic version renders it "ink", and the Ethiopic, a book, and the Vulgate Latin, a notebook. The word signifies "a little table", such as they used to write not only "upon", but "in"; and was so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MOUTH WAS OPENED IMMEDIATELY,.... As soon as ever the child was named, and so all things accomplished which the angel had foretold; AND HIS TONGUE LOOSED; the impediments of speech were removed, and the use of his tongue and lips was restored unto him: AND HE SPAKE AND PRAISED GOD; for the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FEAR CAME ON ALL THAT DWELT ROUND ABOUT THEM,.... That is, the fear of God, an awful reverence of the divine majesty; they perceived the hand of God was in these things, and that these were effects of divine power; and which made very serious impressions upon their minds, and they thought, and s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THEY THAT HEARD THEM,.... The above things, laid them up in their hearts; treasured them up in their memories, and often thought of them in their minds, what should be the meaning, and what would be the issue of them: SAYING, WHAT MANNER OF CHILD SHALL THIS BE? what will he be, or come to?... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS FATHER ZACHARIAS WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST,.... With a spirit of prophecy, as his wife Elisabeth had been before, Luke 1:41 AND PROPHESIED saying; the following things, relating to the Messiah, his incarnation and redemption by him; to the accomplishing of the covenant, oath, promise a... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL,.... This was a form of blessing of long standing, Psalms 72:18 and very likely was in use, more or less, ever since Israel was distinguished from other nations, became a body politic, and were settled in the land of Canaan, in the enjoyment of peculiar privileges,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HATH RAISED UP AN HORN OF SALVATION FOR US,.... Meaning the Messiah, whom God had now raised up: IN THE HOUSE OF HIS SERVANT DAVID; in David's family, he being now conceived by a virgin of his house; and who, in a little time, would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. He is called "an horn... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SPAKE, BY THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS,.... Which shows not only the veracity and faithfulness of God in his promises, but the early intimations that were given by him concerning the Messiah: for it follows, WHICH HAVE BEEN SINCE WORLD BEGAN; or from the beginning of the world; ever since t... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED FROM OUR ENEMIES,.... This, and the two following verses, either contain and express the sum and substance of what God spake by the prophets; or point out the end or ends of his raising up an horn of salvation, or a Saviour for his people; namely, that they should be saved by... [ Continue Reading ]
TO PERFORM THE MERCY PROMISED TO OUR FATHERS,.... By "mercy" is meant salvation by Christ, which springs from the mercy of God; the promise of which was an instance of mercy to the Jewish fathers under the Old Testament, and also the performance of it; for they were saved by the grace of our Lord Je... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OATH WHICH HE SWORE TO OUR FATHER ABRAHAM. When he swore by himself, because he could swear by no greater, that in blessing he would bless him; that his seed should possess the gates of his enemies, and in it all the nations of the earth should be blessed: all which have been fulfilled in Jesus... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE WOULD GRANT UNTO US,.... What is said in this and the following verse, is the substance of the promised mercy, covenant, and oath: THAT WE BEING DELIVERED OUT OF THE HANDS OF OUR ENEMIES, as before, in Luke 1:71 MIGHT SERVE HIM WITHOUT FEAR. One principal end of deliverance from spiritual... [ Continue Reading ]
IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS,...., Not in mere outward rites and legal ceremonies but as the saints serve, from principles of righteousness and true holiness; in which the new man is created, and of which the kingdom of God, or spiritual and internal religion consists; so in acts of piety and devot... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU, CHILD, SHALT BE CALLED THE PROPHET OF THE HIGHEST,.... Here Zacharias turns himself to his son John, though an infant, and incapable of knowing what was said to him; and for the sake of those that were present, describes his office and work; and says, that he should be "called", that is, t... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION,.... This is still said of John, and belongs to his work and office; though the Syriac and Arabic versions read, "that he may give"; as if it was spoken of the Lord, before whose face John was to go, and whose ways he was to prepare: by "salvation" is meant, not a temp... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE TENDER MERCY OF OUR GOD,.... or "bowels of mercy", to which the forgiveness of sin is owing; the source and spring of pardon, is the free grace and abundant mercy of God; it takes its rise from thence, though it is channelled in the blood and sacrifice of Christ; and which no way derogat... [ Continue Reading ]
TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS,.... God's elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having los... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT,.... That is, John, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, grew in stature of body, and increased in wisdom and knowledge, and fortitude in his soul: AND WAS IN THE DESERTS; or "desert", as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; not in the wilder... [ Continue Reading ]