Luke 1-2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:72

Verse 72 72.To perform the mercy Zacharias again points out the fountain from which redemption flowed, the mercy and gracious covenant of God. He assigns the reason why God was pleased to save his people. It was because, being mindful of his promise, he displayed his mercy. He is said to have remembrance of his covenant, because there might be some appearance of forgetfulness during that long delay, in which he allowed his people to languish under the weight of very heavy calamities. We must... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:73

Verse 73 73.According to the oath There is no word in the Greek original for the preposition according to: but it is a common and well understood principle of language, that when the accusative case is put absolutely, there is a preposition to be understood, by which it is governed. The oath is mentioned, for the purpose of expressing more fully the firmness and sacredness of his truth: for such is his gracious condescension, that he deigns to employ his name for the support of our weakness. If... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:74

Verse 74 74.That being delivered out of the hand of our enemies His purpose was, that, being redeemed, they might dedicate and consecrate themselves entirely to the Author of their salvation. As the efficient cause of human salvation was the undeserved goodness of God, so its final cause is, that, by a godly and holy life, men may glorify his name. This deserves careful attention, that we may remember our calling, and so learn to apply the grace of God to its proper use. We must meditate on... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:75

Verse 75 75.In holiness and righteousness As the rule of a good life has been reduced by God to two tables, (Exodus 31:18,) so Zacharias here declares, that we serve God in a proper manner, when our life has been framed to holiness and righteousness. Holiness, beyond all question, denotes—as even Plato knew the duties of godliness, (77) which relate to the first table of the law. Righteousness, again, extends to all the duties of charity: for God requires nothing more from us in the second... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

Verse 76 76.And thou, child Zacharias again returns to commend the grace of Christ, but does this, as it were, in the person of his son, by describing briefly the office to which he had been appointed as an instructor. Though in a little infant eight days old he does not yet observe prophetical endowments, yet turning his eyes to the purpose of God, he speaks of it as a thing already known. To be called means here to be considered and openly acknowledged as the prophet of God. A secret calling... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:77

Verse 77 77.To give knowledge of salvation Zacharias now touches the principal subject of the gospel, when he says that the knowledge of salvation consists in the forgiveness of sins. As we are all “by nature the children of wraths” (Ephesians 2:3,) it follows, that we are by nature condemned and ruined: and the ground of our condemnation is, that we are chargeable with unrighteousness. There is, therefore, no other provision for escaping eternal death (81) but by God “reconciling us unto... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:78

Verse 78 78.Through the bowels (83) of mercy In so great a benefit Zacharias justly extols the mercy of God, and not satisfied with merely calling it the salvation which was brought by Christ, he employs more emphatic language, and says that it proceeded from the very bowels of the mercy of God. He then tells us metaphorically, that the great mercy of God has made the day to give light to those who were sitting in darkness Oriens, in the Latin version of this passage, is not a participle: for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:79

Verse 79 79.That he might give light to those who were sitting in darkness As to light and darkness, there are similar modes of expression in Isaiah: such as, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined,” (Isaiah 9:1;) and in many other passages. These words show, that out of Christ there is no life-giving light in the world, but every thing is covered by the appalling darkness of death.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:1

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand . The Greek in which St. Luke's Gospel is written is generally pure and classical, but the language of the little introduction (verse 1-4) is especially studied and polished, and contrasts singularly with the Hebrew character of the story of the nativity, which immediately follows. St, Luke here, in this studied introduction, follows the example of many of the great classical writers, Latin as well as Greek. Thucydides, Herodotus, Livy, for instance, paid... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:1-4

AN INTRODUCTION . read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:72

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:73

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:74

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:75

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:77

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:78

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:79

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 1:1-4

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