Luke 2:22-39

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:27

And he came by the Spirit into the temple ,.... By the same Spirit of God, that revealed the above to him. The Ethiopic version renders it, "the Spirit brought him into the temple": but Simeon was not brought thither, as this version seems to suggest, in such manner as Ezekiel was brought by the Spirit to Jerusalem. Ezekiel 8:3 or as Christ was brought by Satan to the holy city and set upon the pinnacle of the temple; but the Spirit of God, who knows and searches all things, even the deep... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:28

Then took he him up in his arms ,.... That same Spirit that had revealed unto him that he should not die till he saw the Messiah with his bodily eyes; and who by a secret impulse had moved him to go to the temple just at this time made known unto him that that child which Joseph and Mary then brought into the temple to present to the Lord, was the Messiah; wherefore, in a rapture of joy, he took him out of their arms into his own, embracing him with all affection and respect imaginable:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:29

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant ,.... He acknowledges him as his Lord, and to have a despotic power over him with respect to life and death; and himself as his servant, which he was, both by creation and grace: and though it expresses humiliation, and a sense of distance and unworthiness, yet to be a servant of the most high God, is a very high and honourable character: what he requests of the Lord is that he might depart in peace ; signifying his hearty desire to die, and with what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:30

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation ,.... The Messiah, who is often so called; see Genesis 49:18 . He goes by the name of "salvation", because the salvation of God's elect is put into his hands, and he has undertook it; and because he is the author of it, he has fulfilled his engagements, and has accomplished what he promised to do; and because salvation is in him, it is to be had in him; and in him the true Israel of God are saved, with an everlasting salvation: and he is called "God's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:31

Which thou hast prepared ,.... In his eternal purposes and decrees, having chosen and foreordained Christ, and appointed him to be his salvation, to the ends of the earth; in his counsel and covenant of grace wherein it was agreed, determined, and concluded on, that he should be the Saviour of his people; and in the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, and in all the types, shadows, and sacrifices, of that dispensation; in which he was exhibited, and held forth as the Saviour to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:32

A light to lighten the Gentiles ,.... Or for the revelation of the Gentiles; to reveal the love, grace, and mercy of God, an everlasting righteousness, and the way of life and salvation to them. Reference seems to be had to Isaiah 42:6 . "Light", is one of the names of the Messiah in the Old Testament, as in Psalm 43:3 Daniel 2:22 , which passages are by the Jews F11 Jarchi in Psal. xliii. 3. Bereshit Rabba, fol. 1. 3. Echa Rabbati, fol. 50. 2. themselves interpreted of Christ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:33

And Joseph and his mother ,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "and his father and mother". The Ethiopic version retains both his name and his relation, and reads, "and Joseph his father, and his mother"; but all the ancient copies read only "Joseph", without the addition, his father; and so the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions: they marvelled at those things which were spoken of him ; the child Jesus: not that those things which Simeon said, were new and strange to them; for they not only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:34

And Simeon blessed them ,.... Pronounced them blessed persons, on account of their relation to Christ as man; and more especially, because of their interest in him, as the, Saviour and Redeemer of them; and wished them all happiness and prosperity inward and outward, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; and so the Arabic version renders it, confining it to Joseph and Mary; "and Simeon blessed them both"; though this blessing of his may take in also the young child Jesus; whom he might pronounce... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:35

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also ,.... Meaning either the sword, "or spear of scandal", as the Arabic version renders it; so the calumny, and reproach of the tongues of men, is compared to a sharp sword, Psalm 57:4 and such the virgin might meet with on account of her conception in art unmarried state, which might greatly wound her soul; or else the sorrows she met with on account of her son: as he was a man of sorrows, so was she a woman of sorrows, from his cradle to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna ,.... The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna, in 1 Samuel 1:2 and it signifies "grace"; or "gracious": and as was her name, so was she, a gracious woman; One that had the grace of God herself, and was a publisher of the glad tidings of grace and redemption by Christ, to others; and she was a prophetess : for though prophecy had ceased among the Jews for some hundreds of years, it now revived upon the... read more

Group of Brands