Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

1:5-7 John the Baptist's birth is foretold during the reign of Herod the Great, who is described as the king of Judea (see note on Matt. 2:1). After being granted kingship from Rome in 40 b.c., Herod ruled Judea, Galilee, Samaria, Perea, and Idumea from 37-4. "Judea" is used broadly here to describe the land of the Jews rather than narrowly to refer to the Roman province. division of Abijah. To provide service for the temple, the priests were divided into 24 divisions, each of which served for a week, twice a year. During major festivals (Passover, Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles) all the divisions served. Luke focuses on one priest, Zechariah, and his wife, Elizabeth. Luke records both that they were righteous and blameless in all the commandments and that they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren. Their childlessness was not due to any personal sin on their part but to God's sovereign and wise plan.

1:8-10 Zechariah--chosen by lot--is serving in the temple sanctuary. Outside the temple sanctuary the people were praying (see Introduction: Key Themes).

1:12 fear fell upon him. A typical reaction to an angelic or divine presence (cf. vv. 29-30, 65; 2:9).

1:13-14 your prayer has been heard. Though the specific content of Zechariah's prayer is not given, it most likely would have included at least two petitions: Zechariah would have been interceding on behalf of Israel as a nation, and he apparently also raised a second petition, for a child, as indicated by v. 13b (cf. Gen. 25:21; 30:22; 1 Sam. 1:10-17). Zechariah must have prayed for a child hundreds of times over many years, and now at last the answer has come. Joy and gladness come to Zechariah and Elizabeth both because their childlessness has ended (cf. Luke 1:25) and because of ("for," v. 15) what God will do through their son.

1:15 Abstinence from wine and strong drink indicates John's ascetic lifestyle akin to the Nazirites in the OT (Num. 6:1-3). His being filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb (Luke 1:41) reveals God's equipping him for his ministry. It also indicates that he was a distinct human person before birth and suggests that, in an uncommon way, God imparted regeneration to him before he was born.

1:16-17 Turn, used twice in these verses, describes a change in direction, often in the sense of conversion (cf. Acts 9:35; 11:21; 14:15). go before him. Cf. "Prepare the way," Luke 3:4. The terms spirit and power are frequently associated (e.g., 4:14; Acts 1:8; 10:38; Rom. 15:13; 1 Cor. 2:4; Eph. 3:16; 1 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:7), for the Holy Spirit imparts power for ministry. For John's association with Elijah, cf. Luke 9:8-9, 19; and notes on Matt. 11:14; 17:1-13; 17:10-13; John 1:20-21.

1:18 How shall I know this? Zechariah requests a sign confirming the angel's prediction (see v. 13 and note on v. 20).

1:19 I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God. This astounding "job description" identifies Gabriel as an angel of surpassing faithfulness, holiness, and responsibility (cf. Dan. 9:21).

1:20 you will be silent. The sign given by Gabriel is both gracious and a rebuke; it results in muteness (and probably also deafness, implied by v. 62; see note on vv. 62-63). But until the day that these things take place affirms that the promise will still be fulfilled.

1:22 Mute (Gk. kōphos) can mean either "mute" or "deaf," depending on the context, and there is some evidence that it can at times mean "deaf and mute" (see note on vv. 62-63).

1:24-25 Why Elizabeth remained in seclusion five months is unclear, but it kept her pregnancy secret for a while and allowed her time to worship God (v. 25) and prepare for this special child. to take away my reproach. Childlessness was considered a disgrace (cf. Gen. 30:23; Isa. 4:1).