Luke 1-2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:66

And all they that heard them ,.... The above things, laid them up in their hearts; treasured them up in their memories, and often thought of them in their minds, what should be the meaning, and what would be the issue of them: saying, what manner of child shall this be? what will he be, or come to? and what is it that he shall do? surely he must be designed in providence to be put into some high station, and some eminent work and service; since so many, and such great things, have gone... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:67

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost ,.... With a spirit of prophecy, as his wife Elisabeth had been before, Luke 1:41 . and prophesied saying; the following things, relating to the Messiah, his incarnation and redemption by him; to the accomplishing of the covenant, oath, promise and mercy of God to his people; and to his son, the forerunner of Christ; and to his work and office, in the various parts and branches of it, which he should perform. Whence it appears,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:68

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ,.... This was a form of blessing of long standing, Psalm 72:18 and very likely was in use, more or less, ever since Israel was distinguished from other nations, became a body politic, and were settled in the land of Canaan, in the enjoyment of peculiar privileges, both civil and religious; see other forms before it in Genesis 9:26 and now, this was very near being antiquated, and out of date; for upon the birth of Christ, the Son of God manifest in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:69

And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us ,.... Meaning the Messiah, whom God had now raised up: in the house of his servant David ; in David's family, he being now conceived by a virgin of his house; and who, in a little time, would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. He is called "an horn of salvation", because he is a powerful Saviour. "Horn" denotes power; it being that to a beast, as the arm is to a man, by which it defends itself, and pushes down its enemies; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:70

As he spake, by the mouth of his holy prophets ,.... Which shows not only the veracity and faithfulness of God in his promises, but the early intimations that were given by him concerning the Messiah: for it follows, which have been since world began; or from the beginning of the world; ever since the first hint of the Messiah, as the seed of the woman, that should bruise the serpent's head, was given, he was more or less spoken of. Adam, the first prophet, seems to have respect to him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:71

That we should be saved from our enemies ,.... This, and the two following verses, either contain and express the sum and substance of what God spake by the prophets; or point out the end or ends of his raising up an horn of salvation, or a Saviour for his people; namely, that they should be saved by him from their enemies: from sin, which wars against the soul, and threatens the destruction of it; from Satan, the avowed and implacable adversary of mankind; from the world, the seed of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:72

To perform the mercy promised to our fathers ,.... By "mercy" is meant salvation by Christ, which springs from the mercy of God; the promise of which was an instance of mercy to the Jewish fathers under the Old Testament, and also the performance of it; for they were saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus, even as we: his blood was shed for the remission of sins that were past, and for the redemption of transgressions under the first Testament: and to remember his holy covenant ; which was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:73

The oath which he swore to our father Abraham. When he swore by himself, because he could swear by no greater, that in blessing he would bless him; that his seed should possess the gates of his enemies, and in it all the nations of the earth should be blessed: all which have been fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah; see Genesis 22:16 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:74

That he would grant unto us ,.... What is said in this and the following verse, is the substance of the promised mercy, covenant, and oath: that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies , as before, in Luke 1:71 . might serve him without fear. One principal end of deliverance from spiritual enemies by Christ, is the service of God; and nothing lays a greater obligation on men to serve the Lord, and glorify him, than redemption by Christ; nor is there any thing that makes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:75

In holiness and righteousness ,...., Not in mere outward rites and legal ceremonies but as the saints serve, from principles of righteousness and true holiness; in which the new man is created, and of which the kingdom of God, or spiritual and internal religion consists; so in acts of piety and devotion towards God, and justice among men, which is the substance of the perfect and acceptable will of God: before him ; it is one thing to serve the Lord with an outward appearance of holiness... read more

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