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Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 1:5-25

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 1:25

looked on . Greek. epeidon. App-133 . Occurs only in Luke here, and Acts 4:29 . to take away my reproach. Compare Genesis 30:23 . 1 Samuel 1:6-10 . Hosea 9:14 . Contrast Luke 23:29 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 1:24-25

Luke 1:24-25. And hid herself five months,— The meaning is, either that she saw no company, judging it proper to spend most of her time in the duties of devotion, and in meditating silently on the wonderful goodness of God; or that she concealed her pregnancy for awhile, lest she should expose herself to ridicule. That barrenness was a reproach among the Jews, appears from Genesis 30:23. 1 Samuel 1:11.Isaiah 4:1; Isaiah 4:1; Isaiah 54:1; Isa 54:4 and many other passages. That a branch of the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:5-25

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:5-52

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 1:24-25

3. The pregnancy of Elizabeth 1:24-25The angel’s announcement of John’s birth occurred even before Elizabeth conceived him (cf. Matthew 1:18-25). This is further evidence of his being a special provision from the Lord. Elizabeth’s self-imposed five-month period of seclusion may have been to safeguard the arrival of her child and her own health as an older woman. Elizabeth gratefully acknowledged God’s grace in removing the disgrace of her childless condition (cf. Genesis 30:23; 1 Samuel 2:1-10;... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:1-80

Birth of John. The Annunciation1-4. Preface. To write a preface to a history is not a Jewish, but a classical custom, and by following it St. Luke shows himself a true Gentile, trained in Greek culture and imitating classical models. Here he affects classical elegance and correctness of expression, but in the course of his Gospel he generally imitates the simpler synoptic style.This Preface contains all that is really known as distinguished from what is guessed about the sources of the Synoptic... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 1:25

(25) To take away my reproach among men.—The words express in almost their strongest form the Jewish feeling as to maternity. To have no children was more than a misfortune. It seemed to imply some secret sin which God was punishing with barrenness. So we have Rachel’s cry, “Give me children, or else I die” (Genesis 30:1); and Hannah’s “bitterness of soul” when “her adversary provoked her to make her fret” (1 Samuel 1:6-10). read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Luke 1:1-80

St. Luke's Gospel Luke 1:3-4 Our information concerning St. Luke is scanty. It is conjectured by some that he was one of the seventy disciples sent forth by our Lord, in addition to the twelve Apostles (Luke 10:1 ). There seems no reason to doubt that he was the companion of St. Paul in his travels, and that he was a 'physician' (Colossians 4:14 ). Some have thought that his profession as a physician may be traced in his manner of describing our Lord's miraculous cures of diseases, and his... read more

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