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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

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 1:5

(5) There was in the days of Herod.—The writer begins, as he had promised, with the first facts in the divine order of events. The two chapters that follow have every appearance of having been based originally on an independent document, and that probably a Hebrew one. On its probable sources, see Introduction. On Herod and this period of his reign, see Notes on Matthew 2:1.Zacharias.—The name (= “he who remembers Jehovah,” or, perhaps, “he whom Jehovah remembers,”) had been borne by many in... 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

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Luke 1:1-27

Chapter 1THE GENESIS OF THE GOSPEL.THE four walls and the twelve gates of the Seer looked in different directions, but together they guarded, and opened into, one City of God. So the four Gospels look in different directions; each has its own peculiar aspect and inscription; but together they lead towards, and unveil, one Christ, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." They are the successive quarterings of the one Light. We call them "four" Gospels, though in reality... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Luke 1:5-25

Chapter 2THE MUTE PRIEST. Luke 1:5-25; Luke 1:57-80.AFTER his personal prelude, our Evangelist goes on to give in detail the pre-Advent revelations, so connecting the thread of his narrative with the broken-off thread of the Old Testament. His language, however, suddenly changes its character and accent; and its frequent Hebraisms show plainly that he is no longer giving his own words, but that he is simply recording the narratives as they were told him, possibly by some member of the Holy... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Luke 1:1-80

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE Analysis and Annotations I. The Birth and Childhood -- Chapter 1-2:52 CHAPTER 1 1. The Introduction. (Luke 1:1-4 ) 2. Zacharias and Elizabeth; the Vision. (Luke 1:5-12 ) 3. John the Baptist, his birth and ministry announced. (Luke 1:13-17 ) 4. Zacharias’ Unbelief and Punishment. (Luke 1:18-26 ) 5. The Angel’s Announcement to the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:27-33 ) 6. Mary’s Question and the Answer. (Luke 1:34-38 ) 7. Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45 ) 8. The Virgin... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Luke 1:5

1:5 There {2} was {f} in the days of {g} Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the {h} course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.(2) John, who was another Elias and appointed to be the herald of Christ, coming from the family of Aaron, and of two famous and blameless parents, has shown in his conception(which was against the course of nature) a double miracle, to the end that men should be more readily prepared for the... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:1-80

LUKE'S GOSPEL WRITTEN FOR A GENTILE RULER (vs.1-4) Luke's introduction shows that, though he was concerned about giving exact information in this letter to Theophilus, he had not thought of being an instrument directly inspired by God. Theophilus was evidently a Gentile authority of whom nothing more is said in scripture, except in Acts 1:1, where only his name is mentioned. Many others had been energized to write an orderly history of those things concerning the Lord Jesus, and Luke was... read more

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