Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 1:78

(78) Through the tender mercy.—Literally, on account of the bowels of mercy of our God. After this manner the Jews spoke of what we should call “the heart” of God. The word was a favourite one with St. Paul, as in the Greek of 2 Corinthians 7:15; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:1; Colossians 3:12. The pity that moved the heart of God is thought of, not as the instrument through which, but that on account of which, the work of the Baptist was to be accomplished.The dayspring from on high.—The... 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 1:57-80

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 1:78

1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the {p} dayspring from on high hath visited us,(p) Or "bud", or "branch"; he alludes to Jeremiah 23:5 Zec 3:8 6:12 ; and he is called a bud from on high, that is, sent from God unto us, and not as other buds which bud out of the earth. 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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Luke 1:1-80

THE EARLY YEARS OF JESUS There is a preface to Luke’s Gospel (Luke 1:1-4 ). While Matthew and Mark tell us of whom they write (Matthew 1:1 ; Mark 1:1 ), Luke and John tell us why they write (compare John 20:31 ). Luke wrote for the instruction of Theophilus (compare Acts 1-2) whose name indicates that he was a Greek, while “most excellent” suggests that he may have been of high rank. There were many records of our Lord (Luke 1:1 ), received from eyewitnesses (Luke 1:2 ), but Luke “had... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Luke 1:67-79

(67) And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, (68) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people, (69) And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; (70) As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began; (71) That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; (72) To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Luke 1:78

The rising light,[12] or the rising sun, hath visited us from on high. The Rheims translation hath the Orient, the Protestant, the day-spring. Both seem more obscure than they need be. The Latin, as well as the Greek, hath a noun substantive, by which Christ himself is signified. Yet the same word, in both languages, is sometimes taken for a rising light, and sometimes for a bud, or branch; in which latter sense it is expounded by St. Jerome. (Comment in Zachar. p. 1737, tom. 3, Ed. Ben.)... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:67-80

67-80 Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of... read more

Group of Brands