Luke 1:15

great in the sight of the Lord See Luke 7:24-30; Matthew 11:11.

shall drink neither wine nor strong drink He shall be a Nazarite (Luke 7:33; Numbers 6:1-4); like Samson (Judges 13:2-7); and the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:6). -Strong drink" (Sikerafrom Heb. Shakar-he is intoxicated") was also forbidden to ministering priests, Leviticus 10:8. The term seems to have been specially applied to palmwine (Plin. Hist. Nat.xiv. 19), and all intoxicants (e. g. beer, &c.) which are not made of the juice of the grape. - Ne Syder," Wyclif.

shall be filled with the Holy Ghost The contrast between the false and hateful excitement of drunkenness and the divine exaltation of spiritual fervour is also found in Ephesians 5:18, "Be not drunk with wine … but be filled with the Spirit." Comp. Acts 2:13.

even from his mother's womb Compare 1 Samuel 1:11; Jeremiah 1:5.