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

1:58 shown great mercy. Cf. v. 25. Rejoiced with her is a partial fulfillment of v. 14 (cf. 2:10).

1:59 Circumcision on the eighth day is commanded in Gen. 17:12-14; 21:4; Lev. 12:3.

1:60 Elizabeth names her son John as the angel instructed (v. 13), but the choice is questioned (v. 61).

1:62-63 They made signs to his father indicates that Zechariah was deaf as well as mute, or else they would simply have spoken to him (see note on v. 22). This is confirmed by the people's amazement (v. 63) that he chose the same name as Elizabeth chose, something that would not have been surprising if he had been able to hear her. Zechariah, using a writing tablet (a wooden tablet covered with wax), affirms Elizabeth's choice.

1:65-66 Fear comes upon all the neighbors of Zechariah and Elizabeth (cf. v. 12), for they suddenly realize that God is working among them. Luke emphasizes the greatness of John's fame by his expressions all their neighbors, all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard.

1:67 Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, like Elizabeth (v. 41), gives a prophecy (vv. 68-79), a single sentence in the Greek text. It is often called the "Benedictus," from its first word in the Latin Vulgate.

1:68 Like the Magnificat (vv. 46-55), the Benedictus begins with a word of praise: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. For indicates that all of the following (vv. 68-79) is the cause of Zechariah's praise. he has visited and redeemed his people. With the events of vv. 5-67, the promised time of salvation has begun. (Cf. v. 78, which also speaks of God "visiting" his people with the dawning of the "sunrise . . . from on high"--that is, with the coming of Christ.)

1:69 The horn, symbolizing an animal's strength, refers to Jesus. David. Cf. v. 27.

1:70 As he spoke . . . from of old emphasizes the fulfillment and continuity between the old and new covenants (cf. vv. 72-73).

1:73-75 swore to our father Abraham. The content of the oath (v. 73) is given in vv. 74-75, that is, to bless the world through Abraham's offspring. The Benedictus proper ends at v. 75.

1:76-77 This knowledge, brought by John the Baptist, prepares the way for the coming of Jesus. Such knowledge is not merely theoretical or cognitive but deeply experiential, resulting in a fundamental change of heart and behavior (e.g., "repentance"; cf. 3:7-8). Salvation and the forgiveness of . . . sins (cf. 3:3) reveal the nature of the redemption brought by the Christ.

1:78-79 the sunrise shall visit us . . . to give light. Probably a metaphor referring to the coming of the Messiah (cf. Isa. 60:2-3; Mal. 4:2; and perhaps Num. 24:17).

1:80 the child grew and became strong in spirit. Cf. 2:40.