Luke 1:76-80 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 1:67-80

We have here the song wherewith Zacharias praised God when his mouth was opened; in it he is said to prophesy (Luke 1:67), and so he did in the strictest sense of prophesying; for he foretold things to come concerning the kingdom of the Messiah, to which all the prophets bear witness. Observe, I. How he was qualified for this: He was filled with the Holy Ghost, was endued with more than ordinary measures and degrees of it, for this purpose; he was divinely inspired. God not only forgave him... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 1:67-80

1:67-80 His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied like this: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has graciously visited his people and wrought deliverance for them. He has raised the horn of salvation for us in the house of David, his servant--as long ago he said he would through the mouth of his holy prophets--even deliverance from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, in that he has shown mercy to us as he did to our fathers and has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:76

And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest ,.... Here Zacharias turns himself to his son John, though an infant, and incapable of knowing what was said to him; and for the sake of those that were present, describes his office and work; and says, that he should be "called", that is, that he should "be", and be accounted a "prophet": for he was not only a preacher of Christ and his Gospel, but he also foretold the coming of the Messiah; and the vengeance that should fall on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:77

To give knowledge of salvation ,.... This is still said of John, and belongs to his work and office; though the Syriac and Arabic versions read, "that he may give"; as if it was spoken of the Lord, before whose face John was to go, and whose ways he was to prepare: by "salvation" is meant, not a temporal salvation, or a deliverance from the Roman yoke, the Jews were expecting, for John gave no intimation of any such salvation; but of a spiritual and eternal salvation, and of Christ himself,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:78

Through the tender mercy of our God ,.... or "bowels of mercy", to which the forgiveness of sin is owing; the source and spring of pardon, is the free grace and abundant mercy of God; it takes its rise from thence, though it is channelled in the blood and sacrifice of Christ; and which no way derogates from, but rather heightens the riches of God's grace and mercy: for it was mercy that moved God to enter into a covenant with his Son, in which forgiveness of sin is promised; and it was mercy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:79

To give light to them that sit in darkness ,.... God's elect among the Jews, who were not only in a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, ignorance, and unbelief; but in the darkness of the legal dispensation, and at this time under more than ordinary darkness and ignorance; having lost the knowledge of the righteousness of God, and of the spirituality of his law, the true sense of the Scriptures, and right notions of the Messiah; being led by blind guides, the Scribes and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:80

And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit ,.... That is, John, the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, grew in stature of body, and increased in wisdom and knowledge, and fortitude in his soul: and was in the deserts ; or "desert", as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; not in the wilderness of Judea, where he came preaching, but either of Ziph or Maon, which were near to Hebron; see 1 Samuel 23:14 he was not brought up in the schools of the prophets, nor in the academies... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

And thou, child, etc. - Zacharias proclaims the dignity, employment, doctrine, and success of his son; and the ruin and recovery of the Jews and the Gentiles. His dignity. Thou shalt be called (constituted) a prophet of the Most High. Prophet has two acceptations: - 1st. A person who foretells future events; and; 2dly. A teacher of men in the things of God, 1 Corinthians 14:3 . John was a prophet in both senses: he proclaimed the mercy which should be communicated; announced the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:80

The child grew - Increased in stature and bodily vigor. And waxed strong in spirit - had his understanding Divinely illuminated and confirmed in the truths of God. And was in the deserts - the city of Hebron, the circumjacent hill country, and in or near Nazareth. Till the time of his showing, or manifestation - till he was thirty years of age, before which time the law did not permit a man to enter into the public ministry, Numbers 4:3 . See also Luke 3:23 . So much has already been... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

Verse 76 76.And thou, child Zacharias again returns to commend the grace of Christ, but does this, as it were, in the person of his son, by describing briefly the office to which he had been appointed as an instructor. Though in a little infant eight days old he does not yet observe prophetical endowments, yet turning his eyes to the purpose of God, he speaks of it as a thing already known. To be called means here to be considered and openly acknowledged as the prophet of God. A secret calling... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 1:67-80

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 1:67-80

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:76

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:77

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:78

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:79

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 1:80

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:80

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 1:76

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