_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 ]