Luke 1:57-80

The Birth of John. The Benedictas. In due course Elisabeth bore her son and received the congratulations of her friends. When the babe has been circumcised and named, his mother rejects the proposal to call him Zacharias and insists on John. The deaf and dumb father confirms his wife's wish, and his power of speech is restored. The whole incident made a great impression in the district, and people recognised that some great future was before the lad, for as he grew up (the last clause of Luke 1:66 is anti cipatory) he was seen to be Divinely guided and protected. Meanwhile Zacharias is inspired and utters a song-prophecy. Luke 1:68, in thoroughly Jewish tone, predicts the deliverance of Israel from the oppressor by a scion of the house of David, and the restoration of the theocracy. In Luke 1:76 ff. Zacharias passes to the destiny of his son, and draws on Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 (perhaps also on Mark 1:4). In view of the awkward connexion between Luke 1:78 and Luke 1:77 some have thought Luke 1:76 f. an interpolation. Luke 1:76 b recalls Luke 1:17 a.

Luke 1:78. dayspring from on high: the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, the dawn of the Messianic age. dayspring: Gr. anatolè, the word used in Matthew 2:1 f., and translated east; Mt. gives the Star a warlike, Lk. a peaceful, significance (Exp., Dec. Luke 19:16, pp. 414f.).

Luke 1:80. During his youth and early manhood John spends much time in desert places

Amid dull hearts a prophet never grew,

The nurse of full-grown hearts is solitude.

Cf. Judges 13:24 f., 1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 2:40. Note the contrasts.