VER 1. FOR A SMUCH AS MANY HAVE TAKEN IN HAND TO SET FORTH IN ORDER A
DECLARATION OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US,
2. EVEN AS THEY DELIVERED THEM TO US, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING WERE
EYEWITNESSES, AND MINISTERS OF THE WORD: 3. IT SEEMED GOOD TO ME ALSO,
HAVING HAD PERFECT UND... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 1A. IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD,... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 5. 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 ELIZABETH. 6. AND THEY WERE BOTH
RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, WALKING IN ALL THE COMMANDMENTS AND ORDINANCES
OF THE LORD BLAMELESS.... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 8. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHILE HE EXECUTED THE PRIEST'S OFFICE
BEFORE GOD IN THE ORDER OF HIS COURSE, 9. ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF
THE PRIEST'S OFFICE, HIS LOT WAS TO BURN INCENSE WHEN HE WENT INTO THE
TEMPLE OF THE LORD. 10. AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE WERE
PRAYING WITHOUT AT THE... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 11. AND THERE APPEARED TO HIM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD STANDING ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF THE ALTAR OF INCENSE. 12. AND WHEN ZACHARIAS SAW HIM, HE
WAS TROUBLED, AND FEAR FELL UPON HIM. 13. BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO HIM,
FEAR NOT, ZACHARIAS: FOR YOUR PRAYER IS HEARD; AND YOUR WIFE ELISABETH
SHALL BEAR YOU A S... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 15. 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. 16. AND MANY OF THE CHILDREN
OF ISRAEL SHALL HE TURN TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. 17. AND HE SHALL GO
BEFORE HIM IN THE SPIRIT AND... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 18. AND ZACHARIAS SAID TO THE ANGEL, WHEREBY SHALL I KNOW THIS?
FOR I AM AN OLD MAN, AND MY WIFE WELL STRICKEN IN YEARS. 19. AND THE
ANGEL ANSWERING SAID TO HIM, I AM GABRIEL, THAT STAND IN THE PRESENCE
OF GOD; AND AM SENT TO SPEAK TO YOU, AND TO SHOW YOU THESE GLAD
TIDINGS. 20. AND, BEHOLD, YOU... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 23. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, AS SOON AS THE DAYS OF HIS
MINISTRATION WERE ACCOMPLISHED, HE DEPARTED TO HIS OWN HOUSE. 24. AND
AFTER THOSE DAYS HIS WIFE ELISABETH CONCEIVED, AND HID HERSELF FIVE
MONTHS, SAYING, 25. THUS HAS THE LORD DEALT WITH ME IN THE DAYS
WHEREIN HE LOOKED ON ME, TO TAKE AWA... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 26. AND IN THE SIXTH MONTH THE ANGEL GABRIEL WAS SENT FROM GOD TO
A CITY OF GALILEE, NAMED NAZARETH, 27. TO A VIRGIN ESPOUSED TO A MAN
WHOSE NAME WAS JOSEPH, OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID; AND THE VIRGIN'S NAME
WAS MARY.
THEOPHYL; Because either the Incarnation of Christ was to be in the
sixth age of th... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 28. AND THE ANGEL CAME IN TO HER, AND SAID, HAIL, YOU THAT ARE
HIGHLY FAVORED, THE LORD IS WITH YOU: BLESSED ARE YOU AMONG WOMEN. 29.
AND WHEN SHE SAW HIM, SHE WAS TROUBLED AT HIS SAYING, AND CAST IN HER
MIND WHAT MANNER OF SALUTATION THIS SHOULD BE.
AMBROSE; Mark the virgin by her manner of li... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 30. AND THE ANGEL SAID TO HER, FEAR NOT, MARY FOR YOU HAVE FOUND
FAVOR WITH GOD. 31. AND, BEHOLD, YOU SHALL CONCEIVE IN YOUR WOMB AND
BRING FORTH A SON, AND SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS. 32. HE SHALL BE
GREAT, AND SHALL BE CALLED THE SON OF THE HIGHEST: AND THE LORD GOD
SHALL GIVE TO HIM THE THRONE... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 34. THEN SAID MARY TO THE ANGEL, HOW SHALL THIS BE, SEEING I KNOW
NOT A MAN? 35. AND THE ANGEL ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER, THE HOLY GHOST
SHALL COME UPON YOU, AND THE POWER OF THE HIGHEST SHALL OVERSHADOW
YOU: THEREFORE ALSO THAT HOLY THING WHICH SHALL HE BORN OF YOU SHALL
BE CALLED THE SON OF GOD... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 36. AND, BEHOLD, YOUR COUSIN ELISABETH, SHE HAS ALSO CONCEIVED A
SON IN HER OLD AGE: AND THIS IS THE SIXTH MONTH WITH HER, WHO WAS
CALLED BARREN. 37. FOR WITH GOD NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE. 38. AND
MARY SAID, BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD; BE IT TO ME ACCORDING TO
YOUR WORD. AND THE ANGEL DE... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 39. AND MARY AROSE IN THOSE DAYS, AND WENT INTO THE HILL COUNTRY
WITH HASTE, INTO A CITY OF JUDA; 40. AND ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE OF
ZACHARIAS, AND SALUTED ELISABETH. 41. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, WHEN
ELISABETH HEARD THE SALUTATION OF MARY, THE BABE LEAPED IN HER WOMB;
AND ELISABETH WAS FILLED... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 46. AND MARY SAID, MY SOUL DOTH MAGNIFY THE LORD.
AMBROSE; As evil came into the world by a woman, so also is good
introduced by women; and so it seems not without meaning, that both
Elisabeth prophesies before John, and Mary before the birth of the
Lord. But it follows, that as Mary was the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 47. AND MY SPIRIT HAS REJOICED IN GOD MY SAVIOR.
BASIL; The first-fruit of the Spirit is peace and joy. Because then
the holy Virgin had drunk in all the graces of the Spirit, she rightly
adds, And my spirit has leaped for joy. She means the same thing, soul
and spirit. But the frequent mention... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 48. FOR HE HAS REGARDED THE LOW ESTATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN: FOR,
BEHOLD, FROM HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED.
GREEK EX. She gives the reason why it becomes her to magnify God and
to rejoice in Him, saying, For he has regarded the lowliness of his
handmaiden; as if she said, "He... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 49. FOR HE THAT IS MIGHTY HAS DONE TO ME GREAT THINGS; AND HOLY IS
HIS NAME.
THEOPHYL. The Virgin shows that not for her own virtue is she to be
pronounced blessed, but she assigns the cause saying, For he that is
mighty has magnified me.
AUG. What great things has He done to you; I believe th... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 50. AND HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION.
THEOPHYL; Turning from God's special gifts to His general dealings,
she describes the condition of the whole hole human race, And his
mercy is from generation to generation on them that fear him. As if
she said, Not only... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 51. HE HAS SHOWN STRENGTH WITH HIS ARM, HE HAS SCATTERED THE PROUD
IN THE IMAGINATION OF THEIR HEARTS.
THEOPHYL; In describing the state of mankind, she shows what the proud
deserve, and what the humble; saying, He has shown strength with his
arm, &c. i.e. with the very Son of God. For as your... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 52. HE HAS PUT DOWN THE MIGHTY FROM THEIR SEATS, AND EXALTED THEM
OF LOW DEGREE.
THEOPHYL; The words, He has showed strength with his arm, and those
which went before, And his mercy is on them that fear him from
generation to generation, must be joined to this verse by a comma
only. For truly t... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 53. HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; AND THE RICH HE HAS
SENT EMPTY AWAY.
GLOSS. Because human prosperity seems to consist chiefly in the honors
of the mighty and the abundance of their riches, after speaking of the
casting down of the mighty, and the exalting of the humble, he goes o... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 54. HE HAS HOLPEN HIS SERVANT ISRAEL, IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIS MERCY;
55. AS HE SPOKE TO OUR FATHERS, ABRAHAM, AND TO HIS SEED FOR EVER.
GLOSS. After a general mention of the Divine mercy and holiness, the
Virgin changes the subject to the strange and marvelous dispensation
of the new incarnation,... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 56. AND MARY ABODE WITH HER ABOUT THREE MONTHS, AND RETURNED TO
HER OWN HOUSE.
AMBROSE; Mary abode with Elisabeth until she had accomplished the time
of her bringing forth; as it is said, And Mary abode, &c.
THEOPHYL. For in the sixth month of the conception of the forerunner,
the Angel came t... [ Continue Reading ]
VER57. NOW ELISABETH'S FULL TIME CAME THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED;
AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH A SON. 58. AND HER NEIGHBORS AND HER COUSINS
HEARD HOW THE LORD HAD SHOWN GREAT MERCY UPON HER AND THEY REJOICED
WITH HER.
AMBROSE; If you carefully observe, you will find that the word
signifying fullness is... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 59. 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. 60. AND HIS MOTHER ANSWERED AND SAID, NOT SO; BUT HE SHALL
BE CALLED JOHN. 61. AND THEY SAID TO HER, THERE IS NONE OF THE KINDRED
THAT IS CALLED BY THIS... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 65. AND FEAR CAME ON ALL THAT DWELT ROUND ABOUT THEM: AND ALL
THESE SAYINGS WERE NOISED ABROAD THROUGHOUT ALL THE HILL COUNTRY OF
JUDEA. 66. 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.
THEOPHYL. AS... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 67. AND HIS FATHER ZACHARIAS WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND
PROPHESIED, SAYING, 68. BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL; FOR HE HAS
VISITED AND REDEEMED HIS PEOPLE.
AMBROSE; God in His mercy and readiness to pardon our sins, not only
restores to us what He has taken away, but grants us favor... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 69. AND HAS RAISED UP AN HORN OF SALVATION FOR US IN THE HOUSE OF
HIS SERVANT DAVID.
THEOPHYL. God seemed to be asleep, disregarding the sins of the
multitude, but in these last times coming in the flesh, He has risen
up and trodden down the evil spirits who hated us. Hence it is said,
And he h... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 70. AS HE SPOKE BY THE MOUTH OF HIS HOLY PROPHETS WHICH HAVE BEEN
SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN.
THEOPHYL. That Christ was born of the house of David, Micah relates,
saying, And you, Bethlehem, are not the least in the city of Juda, for
out of you shall come a governor who shall rule my people Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 71. THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED FROM OUR ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF
ALL THAT HATE US.
THEOPHYL; Having first briefly said, He has raised up a horn of
salvation to us, he goes on to explain his words, adding, of salvation
from our enemies. As if he said, He has raised up to us a horn, i.e.
He has... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 72. TO PERFORM THE MERCY PROMISED TO OUR FOREFATHERS, AND TO
REMEMBER HIS HOLY COVENANT; 73. THE OATH WHICH HE SWORE TO OUR FATHER
ABRAHAM, 74. THAT HE WOULD GRANT TO US.
THEOPHYL; Having announced that the Lord, according to the declaration
of the Prophet, would be born of the house of David,... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 74. THAT WE, BEING DELIVERED OUT OF THE HANDS OF OUR ENEMIES,
MIGHT SERVE HIM WITHOUT FEAR.
CHRYS. Having said that a horn of salvation had risen up to us from
the house of David, he shows that through it we are partakers of His
glory, and escape the assaults of the enemy As he says, That being... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 75. IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE HIM, ALL THE DAYS OF OUR
LIFE.
CHRYS. Zacharias glorifies the Lord, because He has made us to serve
Him with full confidence, not in the flesh as Judah did with the blood
of victims, but in the spirit with good works. And this is what he
means by in holi... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 76. AND YOU, CHILD, SHALL BE CALLED THE PROPHET OF THE HIGHEST:
FOR YOU SHALL GO BEFORE THE FACE OF THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS.
AMBROSE; In prophesying of the Lord he rightly addresses the prophet,
showing that prophecy also is a gift of the Lord, in order that he
might not, while enumerating... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 77. TO GIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION TO HIS PEOPLE BY THE REMISSION
OF THEIR SINS.
THEOPHYL. For the manner in which the forerunner prepared the way of
the Lord he explains, adding, To give knowledge of salvation. The Lord
Jesus is salvation, but the knowledge of salvation, i.e. of Christ,
was gi... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 78. THROUGH THE TENDER MERCY OF OUR GOD; WHEREBY THE DAY-SPRING
FROM ON HIGH HAS VISITED US.
THEOPHYL. Because God has forgiven our sins not for our works sake,
but through His mercy, it is therefore fitly added, Through the tender
mercy of our God.
CHRYS. Which mercy we find not indeed by our... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 79. TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS AND IN THE SHADOW
OF DEATH, TO GUIDE OUR FEET INTO THE WAY OF PEACE.
THEOPHYL; Christ is rightly called the Day-spring, because He has
disclosed to us the rising of the true light, as it follows; To give
light to them that sit in darkness and in th... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 80. AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT, AND WAS IN THE
DESERTS TILL THE DAY OF HIS SHOWING TO ISRAEL.
THEOPHYL; The future preacher of repentance, that he might the more
boldly reclaim his hearers from the allurements of the world, passes
the first part of his life in the deserts. H... [ Continue Reading ]