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Text -- Luke 1:1-66 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
Explanatory Preface
1:1 Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us ,
1:2 like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning .
1:3 So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning , to write an orderly account for you , most excellent Theophilus ,
1:4 so that you may know for certain the things you were taught .
Birth Announcement of John the Baptist
1:5 During the reign of Herod king of Judea , there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah , and he had a wife named Elizabeth , who was a descendant of Aaron .
1:6 They were both righteous in the sight of God , following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly .
1:7 But they did not have a child , because Elizabeth was barren , and they were both very old .
1:8 Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty ,
1:9 he was chosen by lot , according to the custom of the priesthood , to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense .
1:10 Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering .
1:11 An angel of the Lord , standing on the right side of the altar of incense , appeared to him .
1:12 And Zechariah , visibly shaken when he saw the angel , was seized with fear .
1:13 But the angel said to him , “Do not be afraid , Zechariah , for your prayer has been heard , and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son ; you will name him John .
1:14 Joy and gladness will come to you , and many will rejoice at his birth ,
1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord . He must never drink wine or strong drink , and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit , even before his birth .
1:16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God .
1:17 And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah , to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just , to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”
1:18 Zechariah said to the angel , “How can I be sure of this ? For I am an old man , and my wife is old as well .”
1:19 The angel answered him , “I am Gabriel , who stands in the presence of God , and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news .
1:20 And now , because you did not believe my words , which will be fulfilled in their time , you will be silent , unable to speak , until the day these things take place .”
1:21 Now the people were waiting for Zechariah , and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place .
1:22 When he came out , he was not able to speak to them . They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place , because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak .
1:23 When his time of service was over , he went to his home .
1:24 After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant , and for five months she kept herself in seclusion . She said ,
1:25 “This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people .”
Birth Announcement of Jesus the Messiah
1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth ,
1:27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph , a descendant descendant of David , and the virgin’s name was Mary .
1:28 The angel came to her and said , “Greetings , favored one, the Lord is with you !”
1:29 But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting .
1:30 So the angel said to her , “Do not be afraid , Mary , for you have found favor with God !
1:31 Listen : You will become pregnant and give birth to a son , and you will name him Jesus .
1:32 He will be great , and will be called the Son of the Most High , and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David .
1:33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever , and his kingdom will never end .”
1:34 Mary said to the angel , “How will this be , since I have not had sexual relations with a man ?”
1:35 The angel replied , “The Holy Spirit will come upon you , and the power of the Most High will overshadow you . Therefore the child to be born will be holy ; he will be called the Son of God .
1:36 “And look , your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren , she is now in her sixth month !
1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God .”
1:38 So Mary said , “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord ; let this happen to me according to your word .” Then the angel departed from her .
Mary and Elizabeth
1:39 In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country , to a town of Judah ,
1:40 and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth .
1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting , the baby leaped in her womb , and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit .
1:42 She exclaimed with a loud voice , “Blessed are you among women , and blessed is the child in your womb !
1:43 And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me ?
1:44 For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears , the baby in my womb leaped for joy .
1:45 And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled .”
Mary’s Hymn of Praise
1:46 And Mary said , “My soul exalts the Lord ,
1:47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior ,
1:48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant . For from now on all generations will call me blessed ,
1:49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me , and holy is his name ;
1:50 from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him .
1:51 He has demonstrated power with his arm ; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts .
1:52 He has brought down the mighty from their thrones , and has lifted up those of lowly position ;
1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things , and has sent the rich away empty .
1:54 He has helped his servant Israel , remembering his mercy ,
1:55 as he promised to our ancestors , to Abraham and to his descendants forever .”
1:56 So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home .
The Birth of John
1:57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby , and she gave birth to a son .
1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her , and they rejoiced with her .
1:59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child , and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father .
1:60 But his mother replied , “No ! He must be named John .”
1:61 They said to her , “But none of your relatives bears this name .”
1:62 So they made signs to the baby’s father , inquiring what he wanted to name his son .
1:63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote , “His name is John .” And they were all amazed .
1:64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke , blessing God .
1:65 All their neighbors were filled with fear , and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about.
1:66 All who heard these things kept them in their hearts , saying , “What then will this child be ?” For the Lord’s hand was indeed with him .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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Names, People and Places:
Dictionary Themes and Topics:
Elisabeth |
Zacharias |
Jonah, Book of |
JESUS CHRIST, 4A |
Mary |
Joy |
Miracles |
Angel |
JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY |
Jesus, The Christ |
Women |
Temple |
Barreess |
Magnificat |
John |
Gabriel |
Psalms |
Poetry |
Praise |
Vision |
more
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Luk 1:1; Luk 1:1; Luk 1:1; Luk 1:1; Luk 1:2; Luk 1:2; Luk 1:2; Luk 1:2; Luk 1:3; Luk 1:3; Luk 1:3; Luk 1:3; Luk 1:4; Luk 1:4; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:5; Luk 1:6; Luk 1:6; Luk 1:6; Luk 1:6; Luk 1:7; Luk 1:7; Luk 1:8; Luk 1:8; Luk 1:8; Luk 1:8; Luk 1:9; Luk 1:9; Luk 1:9; Luk 1:10; Luk 1:10; Luk 1:10; Luk 1:11; Luk 1:11; Luk 1:11; Luk 1:12; Luk 1:12; Luk 1:13; Luk 1:13; Luk 1:13; Luk 1:13; Luk 1:13; Luk 1:14; Luk 1:14; Luk 1:14; Luk 1:15; Luk 1:15; Luk 1:15; Luk 1:15; Luk 1:16; Luk 1:16; Luk 1:16; Luk 1:17; Luk 1:17; Luk 1:18; Luk 1:18; Luk 1:18; Luk 1:19; Luk 1:19; Luk 1:19; Luk 1:20; Luk 1:20; Luk 1:20; Luk 1:21; Luk 1:21; Luk 1:21; Luk 1:22; Luk 1:22; Luk 1:22; Luk 1:22; Luk 1:22; Luk 1:22; Luk 1:23; Luk 1:24; Luk 1:24; Luk 1:24; Luk 1:24; Luk 1:25; Luk 1:25; Luk 1:25; Luk 1:25; Luk 1:25; Luk 1:26; Luk 1:26; Luk 1:26; Luk 1:26; Luk 1:26; Luk 1:27; Luk 1:27; Luk 1:27; Luk 1:28; Luk 1:28; Luk 1:28; Luk 1:28; Luk 1:28; Luk 1:29; Luk 1:29; Luk 1:29; Luk 1:30; Luk 1:30; Luk 1:30; Luk 1:30; Luk 1:31; Luk 1:31; Luk 1:31; Luk 1:31; Luk 1:31; Luk 1:31; Luk 1:32; Luk 1:32; Luk 1:32; Luk 1:32; Luk 1:33; Luk 1:33; Luk 1:33; Luk 1:34; Luk 1:34; Luk 1:35; Luk 1:35; Luk 1:35; Luk 1:35; Luk 1:35; Luk 1:36; Luk 1:36; Luk 1:36; Luk 1:36; Luk 1:37; Luk 1:38; Luk 1:38; Luk 1:38; Luk 1:38; Luk 1:38; Luk 1:38; Luk 1:39; Luk 1:39; Luk 1:41; Luk 1:41; Luk 1:41; Luk 1:41; Luk 1:42; Luk 1:42; Luk 1:42; Luk 1:42; Luk 1:43; Luk 1:44; Luk 1:44; Luk 1:44; Luk 1:45; Luk 1:45; Luk 1:45; Luk 1:45; Luk 1:45; Luk 1:46; Luk 1:46; Luk 1:46; Luk 1:46; Luk 1:47; Luk 1:48; Luk 1:48; Luk 1:48; Luk 1:48; Luk 1:49; Luk 1:50; Luk 1:50; Luk 1:50; Luk 1:51; Luk 1:51; Luk 1:52; Luk 1:52; Luk 1:52; Luk 1:53; Luk 1:53; Luk 1:54; Luk 1:54; Luk 1:55; Luk 1:55; Luk 1:55; Luk 1:56; Luk 1:56; Luk 1:56; Luk 1:57; Luk 1:57; Luk 1:58; Luk 1:58; Luk 1:58; Luk 1:59; Luk 1:59; Luk 1:59; Luk 1:60; Luk 1:60; Luk 1:60; Luk 1:60; Luk 1:61; Luk 1:61; Luk 1:61; Luk 1:62; Luk 1:62; Luk 1:62; Luk 1:62; Luk 1:63; Luk 1:63; Luk 1:63; Luk 1:63; Luk 1:64; Luk 1:64; Luk 1:64; Luk 1:64; Luk 1:65; Luk 1:65; Luk 1:66; Luk 1:66; Luk 1:66; Luk 1:66; Luk 1:66
NET Notes: Luk 1:1 Or “have been accomplished.” Given Luke’s emphasis on divine design (e.g., Luke 24:43-47) a stronger sense (“fulfilled”)...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:2 Grk “like the accounts those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word passed on to us.” The location of “in...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:3 An orderly account does not necessarily mean that all events are recorded in the exact chronological sequence in which they occurred, but that the acc...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:4 Or “you heard about.” This term can refer merely to a report of information (Acts 21:24) or to instruction (Acts 18:25). The scope of Luke...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:5 It was not unusual for a priest to have a wife from a priestly family (a descendant of Aaron); this was regarded as a special blessing.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:9 Or “temple.” Such sacrifices, which included the burning of incense, would have occurred in the holy place according to the Mishnah (m. Ta...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:10 The “hour of the incense offering” is another way to refer to the time of sacrifice.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:11 This term is often used to describe a supernatural appearance (24:34; Acts 2:3; 7:2, 30, 35; 9:17; 13:31; 16:9; 26:16).
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NET Notes: Luk 1:12 Or “and he was afraid”; Grk “fear fell upon him.” Fear is common when supernatural agents appear (1:29-30, 65; 2:9; 5:8-10; 9:...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:13 “Do not be afraid…you must call his name John.” This is a standard birth announcement (see Gen 16:11; Isa 7:14; Matt 1:21; Luke 1:31...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:14 “At his birth” is more precise as the grammatical subject (1:58), though “at his coming” is a possible force, since it is his ...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:15 He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. This is the language of the birth of a prophet (Judg 13:5, 7; Isa 49:1; Jer 1:5; Sir 49...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:17 These two lines cover all relationships: Turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children points to horizontal relationships, while (turn) the di...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:20 Silent, unable to speak. Actually Zechariah was deaf and mute as 1:61-63 indicates, since others had to use gestures to communicate with him.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:22 Grk “dumb,” but this could be understood to mean “stupid” in contemporary English, whereas the point is that he was speechless...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:23 Grk “And it happened that as the days of his service were ended.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (ege...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:24 Grk “she kept herself in seclusion, saying.” The participle λέγουσα (legousa) has been translated as a ...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:25 Grk “among men”; but the context clearly indicates a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") here...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:27 The Greek word order here favors connecting Davidic descent to Joseph, not Mary, in this remark.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:29 Grk “to wonder what kind of greeting this might be.” Luke often uses the optative this way to reveal a figure’s thinking (3:15; 8:9;...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:30 The expression found favor is a Semitism, common in the OT (Gen 6:8; 18:3; 43:14; 2 Sam 15:25). God has chosen to act on this person’s behalf.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:31 You will name him Jesus. This verse reflects the birth announcement of a major figure; see 1:13; Gen 16:7; Judg 13:5; Isa 7:14. The Greek form of the ...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:33 The expression house of Jacob refers to Israel. This points to the Messiah’s relationship to the people of Israel.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:34 Grk “have not known.” The expression in the Greek text is a euphemism for sexual relations. Mary seems to have sensed that the declaration...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:35 Or “Therefore the holy child to be born will be called the Son of God.” There are two ways to understand the Greek phrase τὸ ...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:36 Grk “and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.” Yet another note on Elizabeth’s loss of reproach also becomes a sig...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:37 In Greek, the phrase πᾶν ῥῆμα (pan rJhma, “nothing”) has an emphatic position, giving it emphasis as...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:38 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:39 The author does not say exactly where Elizabeth stayed. The location is given generally as a town of Judah. Judah is about a three day trip south of N...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:41 The passage makes clear that Elizabeth spoke her commentary with prophetic enablement, filled with the Holy Spirit.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:43 Grk “From where this to me?” The translation suggests the note of humility and surprise that Elizabeth feels in being a part of these even...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:44 On the statement the baby in my womb leaped for joy see both 1:14 and 1:47. This notes a fulfillment of God’s promised word.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:46 This psalm (vv. 46-55) is one of the few praise psalms in the NT. Mary praises God and then tells why both in terms of his care for her (vv. 46-49) an...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:47 Or “rejoices.” The translation renders this aorist, which stands in contrast to the previous line’s present tense, as ingressive, wh...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:48 Mary is seen here as an example of an object of God’s grace (blessed) for all generations.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:50 That is, “who revere.” This refers to those who show God a reverential respect for his sovereignty.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:51 Grk “in the imaginations of their hearts.” The psalm rebukes the arrogance of the proud, who think that power is their sovereign right. He...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:52 The contrast between the mighty and those of lowly position is fundamental for Luke. God cares for those that the powerful ignore (Luke 4:18-19).
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NET Notes: Luk 1:53 Another fundamental contrast of Luke’s is between the hungry and the rich (Luke 6:20-26).
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NET Notes: Luk 1:56 As is typical with Luke the timing is approximate (about three months), not specific.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:57 The words “her baby” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied for clarity.
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NET Notes: Luk 1:58 The verb συνέχαιρον (sunecairon) is an imperfect and could be translated as an ingressive force, ...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:59 This could be understood as a conative imperfect, expressing an unrealized desire (“they were trying to name him”). It has been given more...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:60 “No! He must be named John.” By insisting on the name specified by the angel, Elizabeth (v. 60) and Zechariah (v. 63) have learned to obey...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:63 The response, they were all amazed, expresses a mixture of surprise and reflection in this setting where they were so certain of what the child’...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:64 “Released” is implied; in the Greek text both στόμα (stoma) and γλῶσσα (glwssa) ar...
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NET Notes: Luk 1:65 Fear is the emotion that comes when one recognizes something unusual, even supernatural, has taken place.
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