Luke 1-2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:16

And many of the children of Israel ,.... To whom only, or at least chiefly, he was sent, and came preaching, and administering the ordinance of baptism; and great multitudes of them flocked unto him, attended on his ministry, believed in his doctrine, and submitted to his baptism, but not all; for some slighted his preaching, and rejected his baptism: however, some there were, and many too, that were converted under his ministry, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him; which verified... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:17

And he shall go before him ,.... The Lord his God, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose forerunner he was; the messenger of him, that according to the prophecies in Isaiah 40:3 was to go before him, and prepare his ways; as he did by his wonderful conception and birth, which made way for the more easy belief of the conception and birth of the Messiah, by a virgin; and by his preaching the doctrine of repentance, and administering the ordinance of baptism; which, were done to awaken the people's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:18

And Zacharias said unto the angel, whereby shall I know this ?.... Notwithstanding such an appearance of an angel to him, which in those times was not so usual, and this in the holy place; and the things themselves which were told him, and these as the return of prayer; yet he distrusted, and wanted a sign, whereby he might know the truth of them, as the Jews were generally desirous of, and as the father of them was; who expressed himself in much such language, on a certain occasion, as this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:19

And the angel answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel ,.... The name of an angel well known to Zacharias from Daniel's prophecies, Daniel 8:16 and is the first time we read of the name of an angel: the Jews say F1 T. Hicros. Rosh Hashana, fol. 56. 4. , the names of angels came out of Babylon, by the means of the Israelites; and it was there that Daniel became acquainted with this name of Gabriel, and also of Michael. Frequent mention is made of Gabriel in the Jewish writings F2 ... read more

John Gill

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

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