1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, 1 the angel Gabriel 2 was sent by 3 God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 4 1:27 to a virgin engaged 5 to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, 6 and the virgin’s name was Mary.
2:39 So 7 when Joseph and Mary 8 had performed 9 everything according to the law of the Lord, 10 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 11 of Nazareth. 12
6:1 Now 27 Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, 28 and his disciples followed him.
1 tn Grk “in the sixth month.” The phrase “of Elizabeth’s pregnancy” was supplied in the translation to clarify the exact time meant by this reference. That Elizabeth’s pregnancy is meant is clear from vv. 24-25.
2 sn Gabriel is the same angel mentioned previously in v. 19. He is traditionally identified as an angel who brings revelation (see Dan 8:15-16; 9:21). Gabriel and Michael are the only two good angels named in the Bible.
3 tn Or “from.” The account suggests God’s planned direction in these events, so “by” is better than “from,” as six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God acts again.
4 sn Nazareth was a town in the region of Galilee, located north of Samaria and Judea. Galilee extended from about 45 to 85 miles north of Jerusalem and was about 30 miles in width. Nazareth was a very small village and was located about 15 miles west of the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee.
5 tn Or “promised in marriage.”
6 tn Grk “Joseph, of the house of David.”
7 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.
8 tn Grk “when they”; the referents (Joseph and Mary) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Or “completed.”
10 sn On the phrase the law of the Lord see Luke 2:22-23.
11 tn Or “city.”
12 map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
13 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
14 map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
15 tn Or “was submitting.”
16 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.
17 tn Or “all these words.”
18 sn On the phrase his mother kept all these things in her heart compare Luke 2:19.
19 sn Nazareth was a very small village in the region of Galilee (Galilee lay north of Samaria and Judea). The town was located about 15 mi (25 km) west of the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee. According to Luke 1:26, Mary was living in Nazareth when the birth of Jesus was announced to her.
20 tn There is no expressed subject of the third person singular verb here; the pronoun “he” is implied. Instead of this pronoun the referent “Jesus” has been supplied in the text to clarify to whom this statement refers.
21 tn The Greek could be indirect discourse (as in the text), or direct discourse (“he will be called a Nazarene”). Judging by the difficulty of finding OT quotations (as implied in the plural “prophets”) to match the wording here, it appears that the author was using a current expression of scorn that conceptually (but not verbally) found its roots in the OT.
22 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then.”
23 sn Jesus’ hometown (where he spent his childhood years) was Nazareth, about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Capernaum.
24 tn Grk “them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
25 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23. Jesus undoubtedly took the opportunity on this occasion to speak about his person and mission, and the relation of both to OT fulfillment.
26 tn Grk “synagogue, so that they.” Here ὥστε (Jwste) has not been translated. Instead a new sentence was started in the translation.
27 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
28 sn Jesus’ hometown (where he spent his childhood years) was Nazareth, about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Capernaum.