Luke 1-2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:56

And Mary abode with her about three months ,.... That is, she continued with Elisabeth, as the Syriac and Persic versions express, about the space of three months; in which time, she had full satisfaction of the truth of the sign the angel had given her; namely, of Elisabeth's conception and pregnancy, for by this time she was ready to give birth; and she must now be fully assured, that she was with child herself: this space of three months is a term of time fixed by the Jewish doctors, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:57

Now Elisabeth's full time came ,.... The nine months, which is the full time of a woman's going with child, were now complete; for in the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy, or when she had been gone six months with child, the angel acquainted Mary with it, and she had stayed about three months with her; but now had left her, to shun the company which would be at the delivery of her; though some think, she stayed till that time was over, which is not so probable; and so her reckoning being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:58

And her neighbours, and her cousins ,.... That lived in Hebron, and the parts adjacent, whether of the house of Aaron, or of the tribe of Judah; to both which she was related, and who dwelt near her, the priests in the city of Hebron, and the children of Judah in the places about it: heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her ; or "had magnified his mercy with her"; see Genesis 19:19 in removing her barrenness, and so taking away her reproach from among men; in giving her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:59

And it came to pass that on the eighth day ,.... The precise time fixed in the normal restitution of the ordinance of circumcision, Genesis 17:12 though this was not always attended to, but circumcision was sometimes deferred to another time; yet keeping the exact time was judged most commendable and praiseworthy; see Gill on Philemon 3:5 . they came to circumcise the child ; that is, the neighbours and cousins of Elisabeth, who were at the time of her delivery; eight days after they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:60

And his mother answered and said ,.... That is, Elisabeth: not so, but he shall be called John ; knowing that this was the name wherewith the angel said he should be called; either by divine revelation, she being filled with the Holy Ghost, Luke 1:41 or by information of her husband, who, doubtless, in writing, gave her an account of all that the angel had said unto him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:61

And they said unto her ,.... Her neighbours and relations, there is none of thy kindred that is called by this name; from whence it appears, that it was usual to give names to children after their ancestors, relations, and friends. The Persic version renders it, "in thine Israel there is not any one of this name": but this could not be true; for the name of Jochanan, or John, was a name very common among the Israelites, though not in Elisabeth's family, or her husband's. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:62

And they made signs to his father ,.... Who was deaf, as well as dumb; otherwise there would have been no occasion to have signs made to him: and so the word used, in Luke 1:20 signifies both deaf and dumb. These signs were made by hands or head; for such used to be made to a dumb man. According to the canon F17 Misn. Gittin, c. 5. sect 7. , a dumb man nods, and ונרמז "and is nodded", or "beckoned to": and which beckoning one of the commentators F18 Bartenora in ib. says, is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:63

And he asked for a writing table ,.... That is, he made signs for one, for as yet he could not speak. The Persic version renders it "ink", and the Ethiopic, a book, and the Vulgate Latin, a notebook. The word signifies "a little table", such as they used to write not only "upon", but "in"; and was sometimes of brass F20 Haryocration. Lex. p. 244. , sometimes of wood, and sometimes of wax F21 Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 30. , on which they wrote with a style or pen, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:64

And his mouth was opened immediately ,.... As soon as ever the child was named, and so all things accomplished which the angel had foretold, and his tongue loosed ; the impediments of speech were removed, and the use of his tongue and lips was restored unto him: and he spake and praised God ; for the safe delivery of his wife; for the birth of his son, the forerunner of Christ; for the conception of the Messiah; for God's gracious regards to his church and people, in these instances;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:65

And fear came on all that dwelt round about them ,.... That is, the fear of God, an awful reverence of the divine majesty; they perceived the hand of God was in these things, and that these were effects of divine power; and which made very serious impressions upon their minds, and they thought, and spoke of them with great solemnity; see Acts 2:43 . and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea : the several things relating to the appearance of the... read more

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