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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 2:25-40

Even when he humbles himself, still Christ has honour done him to balance the offence of it. That we might not be stumbled at the meanness of his birth, angels then did him honour; and now, that we may not be offended at his being presented in the temple, like other children born in sin, and without any manner of solemnity peculiar to him, but silently, and in the crowd of other children, Simeon and Anna now do him honour, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. I. A very honourable testimony is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 2:36-40

2:36-40 There was a prophetess called Anna. She was the daughter of Phanuel and she belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years. She had lived with her husband ever since seven years after she came to womanhood; and now she was a widow of eighty-four years of age. She never left the Temple and day and night she worshipped with fastings and with prayers. At that very time she came up and she began to give thanks to God and she kept speaking about him to all those who were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:36

And there was one Anna ,.... The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna, in 1 Samuel 1:2 and it signifies "grace"; or "gracious": and as was her name, so was she, a gracious woman; One that had the grace of God herself, and was a publisher of the glad tidings of grace and redemption by Christ, to others; and she was a prophetess : for though prophecy had ceased among the Jews for some hundreds of years, it now revived upon the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:36

Anna, a prophetess - It does not appear that this person was a prophetess in the strict sense of the word, i.e. one who could foretell future events; but rather a holy woman; who, from her extensive knowledge and deep experience in Divine things, was capable of instructing others; according to the use of the word προφητευω , 1 Corinthians 14:3 ; : He that prophesieth, speaketh unto men to edification, and to exhortation, and to comfort. So we find this holy widow proclaiming Jesus to all... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:36

Verse 36 36.And there was Anna, a prophetess Luke mentions not more than two persons who received Christ; and this is intended to teach us, that whatever belongs to God, however small it may be, ought to be preferred by us to the whole world. The scribes and priests, no doubt, were then surrounded by great splendor; but, as the Spirit of God, whose presence was not at all enjoyed by those rulers, (203) dwelt in Simeon and Anna, those two persons are entitled to greater reverence than an immense... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:21-38

The circumcision and presentation in the temple. I. THE CIRCUMCISION . With regard to the circumcision, observe: 1 . The Son of God is not only "made of a woman," he is " made under the Law ." He is entered into all the requirements and circumstances of the covenant "with Abraham and his seed." The apostle tells us why—"to redeem them that were under the Law." Christ took the bond under which Israel was bound, and became Israel's Surety for it. Now it is ended. There is a new... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:21-40

Circumcision and presentation of the Child Jesus . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:21-40

The circumcision and presentation of Jesus. We pass now from the angel's sermon and the shepherds' faithful verification of it to the next notable events in the great life which embodies the gospel for mankind. And we have here— I. THE CIRCUMCISION . ( Luke 2:21 .) This was the admission of Jesus when only eight days old into the Old Testament Church. It was a painful, bloody process, and as such it was the beginning of that life of suffering upon which God's Son had determined... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 2:36

There was one Anna, a prophetess . The name of this holy woman is the same as that of the mother of Samuel. It is not necessary to assume that this Anna had the gift of foretelling future events. She was, at all events, a preacher. These saintly, gifted women, though never numerous, were not unknown in the story of the chosen people. We read of the doings—in some cases the very words are preserved—of Miriam, Hannah, Deborah, Huldah, and others. Of the tribe of Aser . It is true that at... read more

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