Luke 1:14-35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:20

And behold, thou shalt be dumb , &c.; Or "silent; and not able to speak", if he would. Silence is sometimes voluntary; but this was what he could not help; until the day that these thing shall be performed; which he had said concerning the conception and birth of a son, and the imposition of a name on him; for this dumbness remained upon Zachariah, not only until his wife had conceived, and the child was born, but until the eighth day after, when he was circumcised, and his name was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:21

And the people waited for Zacharias ,.... That were without, in the court of the Israelites, praying there, while he was offering incense: these were waiting for his coming out, in order to be blessed by him, according to Numbers 6:23 and be dismissed: and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple; beyond the usual time of burning incense; which might be occasioned either by a longer discourse of the angel with him than what is here related; or being struck with amazement at the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:22

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them ,.... Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple : which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used: for he beckoned unto them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his hands the Ethiopic version adds, "with his hand": or of his lips; for the signs of a dumb man are distinguished into רמיזה , and קפיצה F17 Bartenora in Misa. Gittin, c. 5. sect. 7. ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:23

And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration ,.... In the order of the course, which might be three, four, five, or six days, according to the number of the heads of the house of their fathers in the course; See Gill on Luke 1:5 . were accomplished : for though he was deaf and dumb, he was not hereby disqualified for service. Deafness and dumbness excused persons from various duties F19 Misn. Trumot, c. 1. sect. 1, 2. Chagiga, c. 1. sect. 1. but did not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:24

And after those days ,.... The days of his ministration in the temple, quickly after his return home; the Ethiopic version reads, "after two days": his wife Elisabeth conceived ; according to the angels prediction, and notwithstanding her barrenness, and the unbelief of her husband, and hid herself five months . The Arabic and Persic versions render it, "hid her size"; but there could be no occasion to take any methods to hide this, since, if she said nothing of it herself, and there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:25

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me ,.... In a very gracious and bountiful manner; in giving her strength to conceive a son in her old age, and such an one that was to be great, and so useful in his day; of which her husband had doubtless informed her by writing, though he could not speak: in the days wherein he looked on me ; with a favourable eye, with a look of love and mercy: he took away my reproach from among men; as barrenness was accounted, especially among the Israelites, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:26

And in the sixth month ,.... After Elisabeth's conception; for so long was John the Baptist conceived before Christ, and so long he was born before him; and it seems as if there was the same distance between the public ministry of the one, and the other: John was before Christ, as man, being his forerunner; but Christ was preferred unto him as mediator, and existed before him, as the eternal Son of God: the angel Gabriel was sent from God ; the same angel, that near five hundred years... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:27

To a virgin ,.... A pure virgin, that never knew man; see Gill on Luke 1:34 and yet espoused to a man whose name was Joseph ; but they were not come together, nor had he taken her for his wife, and home to his house, nor had they cohabited: of the house of David ; which, according to the grammatical construction of the words, may be connected either with the virgin, or with Joseph, to whom she was espoused; and is true of both; for they both were of the house and lineage of David:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:28

And the angel came in unto her ,.... Into her house, and into the room where she was: and said, hail ; all health, happiness, and prosperity attend thee; Matthew 28:9 . thou art highly favoured ; or graciously accepted, or hast obtained grace; not referring to electing, redeeming; justifying, pardoning, adopting, and sanctifying grace, which she had in common with other saints; but to that special and particular favour, in being chosen and singled out from all other women, to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:29

And when she saw him ,.... The Persic version renders it, "when Mary saw the angel"; which expresses the true sense of the words, The Vulgate Latin reads, "when she heard"; i.e. the salutation: she was troubled at his saying ; at his speaking to her; she was surprised at the sight of him, and more at what he said to her, and cast in her mind , or thought and reasoned within herself, what manner of salutation this should be; for it was not usual with the Jews for a man to use any... read more

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