Luke 1-2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:69

And hath raised up a horn of salvation - That is, a mighty and glorious Savior: a quotation from Psalm 18:2 . Horns are the well known emblems of strength, glory, and power, both in the sacred and profane writers, because the strength and beauty of horned animals consist in their horns. Horns have also been considered as emblems of light; therefore the heathen god Apollo is represented with horns, to point out the power, glory, and excellence of the solar light. The Chaldee paraphrast... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:71

That we should be saved (literally, a salvation) from our enemies - As Zacharias spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the salvation which he mentions here must necessarily be understood in a spiritual sense. Satan, death, and sin are the enemies from whom Jesus came to deliver us. Sin is the most dangerous of all, and is properly the only enemy we have to fear. Satan is without us, and can have no power over us, but what he gets through sin. Death is only in our flesh, and shall be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:72

His holy covenant - See the note on Luke 1:54 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:74-75

Being delivered, etc. - The salvation brought by Jesus Christ, consists in the following things: - We are to be delivered out of the hand of our enemies, and from all that hate us; so that sin shall neither have dominion over us, nor existence in us. We are to worship God, λατρευειν , to render him that service and adoration which the letter and spirit of his religion require. Ye are to live in holiness, a strict inward conformity to the mind of Christ - and righteousness, a full... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

And thou, child, etc. - Zacharias proclaims the dignity, employment, doctrine, and success of his son; and the ruin and recovery of the Jews and the Gentiles. His dignity. Thou shalt be called (constituted) a prophet of the Most High. Prophet has two acceptations: - 1st. A person who foretells future events; and; 2dly. A teacher of men in the things of God, 1 Corinthians 14:3 . John was a prophet in both senses: he proclaimed the mercy which should be communicated; announced the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:80

The child grew - Increased in stature and bodily vigor. And waxed strong in spirit - had his understanding Divinely illuminated and confirmed in the truths of God. And was in the deserts - the city of Hebron, the circumjacent hill country, and in or near Nazareth. Till the time of his showing, or manifestation - till he was thirty years of age, before which time the law did not permit a man to enter into the public ministry, Numbers 4:3 . See also Luke 3:23 . So much has already been... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:1

Verse 1 Luke is the only Evangelist who makes a preface to his Gospel, for the purpose of explaining briefly the motive which induced him to write. By addressing a single individual he may appear to have acted foolishly, instead of sounding the trumpet aloud, as was his duty, and inviting all men to believe. It appears, therefore, to be unsuitable that the doctrine which does not peculiarly belong to one person or to another, but is common to all, should be privately sent to his friend... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:3

Verse 3 3.Having carefully examined all things The old translator has it, having followed out all things; (20) and the Greek verb παρακολουθεῖν is taken metaphorically from those who tread in the footsteps of others, that nothing may escape them. So that Luke intended to express his close and laborious investigation, just as Demosthenes employs the same word, when, in examining an embassy against which he brings an accusation, he boasts of his diligence to have been such, that he perceived... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:5

Verse 5 Luke very properly begins his Gospel with John the Baptist, just as a person who was going to speak about the daylight would commence with the dawn. For, like the dawn, he went before the Sun of Righteousness, which was shortly to arise. Others also mention him, but they bring him forward as already discharging his office. Luke secures our respect for him, while he is yet unborn, by announcing the miracles of divine power which took place at the earliest period of his existence, and by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:6

Verse 6 6.And they were both righteous before God He awards to them a noble testimony, not only that among men they spent holy and upright lives, but also that they were righteous before God This righteousness Luke defines briefly by saying that they walked in all the commandments of God Both ought to be carefully observed; for, although praise is bestowed on Zacharias and Elisabeth for the purpose of showing us that the lamp, whose light went before the Son of God, was taken not from an... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:69

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:71

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:72

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:74-75

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:80

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:6

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