Thy prayer is heard - That is, thy prayer for offspring. This, among the Jews, was an object of intense desire. No prospect was more gloomy to them than that of dying childless, so that their “name should perish.” Special pains, therefore, had been taken in the law to keep up the names of families by requiring a man to marry his brother’s wife, Deuteronomy 25:5. read more
Luke 1:13 . But the angel said, Fear not, &c. Thus encouraging him with great gentleness of aspect and voice. For thy prayer is heard I do not come unto thee with a message of terror, but am sent to assure thee, thy prayer is heard, and thy wife shall bear thee a son “No doubt this good man had often prayed for children; but as he seemed now to have given up all expectations of that kind, it is reasonable to conclude, that these words chiefly relate to his prayers for the... read more
2. Birth of John the Baptist foretold (Luke 1:5-25)Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was a priest. Because all male descendants of Aaron were priests, there were, even in Old Testament times, too many priests for the amount of work to be done. David therefore divided them into twenty-four divisions, and each division served for two weeks each year. Zechariah belonged to the division of Abijah (Luke 1:5; cf. 1 Chronicles 24:1-19). (All priests would be required for duty during the... read more
unto = to. Greek. pros. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 1:26 . not. Greek. me. App-105 . As in verses: Luke 1:20 , Luke 1:30 , not as in verses: Luke 1:20 , Luke 1:22 , Luke 1:34 . for = because. prayer = a definite petition. is heard = was heard: i.e. not now, or recently. Evidently the prayer for offspring, which was now no longer offered. bear thee = bring forth to thee. John = Jehovah sheweth favour. read more
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias; because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.Fear not ... This was the word of Jesus to his storm-tossed apostles, and the word of the angels to the shepherds when Jesus was born, and it was the last message of the enthroned Christ for all who believe in him (Revelation 1:17).Thy supplication is heard ... The most natural way to understand this is as a reference to the prayers... read more
Luke 1:13. Thy prayer is heard;— We cannot imagine that this holy man, at so advanced an age, and on such an occasion, would pray for the pregnancy of his wife, who was very old. The priests in this office considered themselves as the mouth of the people, and made the welfare of the nation the subject of their prayers. Wherefore, since it is reasonable to suppose that Zacharias now interceded for the coming of the Messiah, in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed, we may... read more
13. thy prayer is heard—doubtless for offspring, which by some presentiment he even yet had not despaired of. John—the same as "Johanan," so frequent in the Old Testament, meaning "Jehovah's gracious gift." read more
A. The announcement of John the Baptist’s birth 1:5-25There are striking parallels to this account in the Old Testament. Zechariah and Elizabeth were similar to Abraham and Sarah, to Jacob and Rachel, to Elkanah and Hannah, and to Samson’s parents. In each case there was a divine announcement of the birth of an unusual child. read more
II. THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS 1:5-2:52This section contains material unique in Luke. The only repeated statement occurs in Luke 2:39 and Matthew 2:23. Other unique features are the way Luke alternated the reader’s attention between John and Jesus, and the joy that several individuals expressed (Luke 1:46-55; Luke 1:68-79; Luke 2:14; Luke 2:29-32). [Note: For studies of the structure of this passage, see Robert C. Tannehill, The Narrative Unity of Luke-Acts , 1:15-20; R. E. Brown, The... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:13-17
Parental ambition. "What would we give to our beloved?" asks one of our poets. What would we ask for our children if we might have our hearts' desire? When the young father or mother looks down on the little child, and then looks on to the future, what is the parental hope concerning him? What is that which, if it could only be assured, would give "joy and gladness"? The history of our race, the chronicles of our own time, even the observation of our own eyes, give abundant proof that the... read more