Daniel P. Barron

Luke 1

Monday, May 9, 2022 

Luke i

According to Luke ii

1 Inasmuch as many have endeavered iii to set in order a narrative concerning the things which have been fulfilled among us, iv 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word v delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having accurately followed all from the beginning, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophius, vi 4 that you may know the certainty vii of the words viii you were taught.

5 There was in the days of Herod, ix the king of Judea, a certain priest with the name of Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. x And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, blameless, xi walking in all the commandments and righteous requirements xii of the Lord. 7 And they had no child, xiii because Elizabeth was sterile, xiv and they were both advanced in their days. xv

8 So it was, while he was serving as priest in the order of his division before God, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot xvi to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And a messenger xvii of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the incense altar. 12 And when Zacharias looked, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 And the messenger said to him, “Do not fear, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son; and you shall call his name John. 14 And he shall be a joy and gladness to you, and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great xviii before the Lord, and wine and strong drink he shall not drink; xix and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. xx 16 And he shall turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. xxi 17 And he shall go before him xxii in the spirit and power of Elijah, xxiii to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, xxiv to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” xxv

18 And Zacharias said to the messenger, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her days.” 19 And the messenger answered and said, “I am Gabriel, xxvi who stands before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you these good messages. xxvii 20 And behold, you shall be mute and not able to speak until the day these things happen, xxviii because you did not believe xxix my words which will be fulfilled in their time.” xxx

21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and marveled that he took so long in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he was motioning xxxi to them; and he remained mute. 23 And it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house. 24 And after those days Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus has the Lord dealt with me in the days in which he looked to remove my reproach xxxii among men.”

26 And in the sixth month xxxiii the messenger Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin xxxiv engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. And the name of the virgin was Mary. xxxv 28 And having come in, the messenger said, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women!” 29 And when she looked, she was troubled at his word, xxxvi and considered of what sort of greeting this was. 30 And the messenger said to her, “Do not fear, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Joshua. 32 He shall be great, xxxvii and shall be called the son xxxviii of the Highest; xxxix and the Lord God shall give him the throne of his father David. 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” xl

34 And Mary said to the messenger, “How shall this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the messenger answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you, therefore, also, the Holy one that is to be born shall be called the son of God. xli 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month of her who was called sterile. 37 Because with God nothing shall be impossible.” xlii 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” xliii And the messenger departed from her.

39 And Mary arose in those days and went to the hill country with haste to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. xliv 42 And she spoke up with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, xlv and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how is this to me, that the mother of my Lord xlvi should come to me? 44 For behold, as soon as the sound of your greeting was in my ears, the baby leaped for joy in my womb. 45 And blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things spoken to her from the Lord.”

46 And Mary said, 47 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. 48 For he has looked upon the lowly state of his maidservant. For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he who is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is his name. xlvii 50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. xlviii 51 He has done mightily by his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. xlix 52 He has brought down rulers from thrones, l and exalted the lowly. 53 The hungry he has filled with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. li 54 He has helped his servant Israel, to remember mercy, 55 just as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

57 Now Elizabeth’s time to give birth was fulfilled, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord magnified His mercy with her, lii and they rejoiced with her.

59 And it came to pass, on the eighth day they came to circumcise liii the child, and they called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. liv 60 And his mother answered and said, “No, but he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”

62 Now they made signs to his father - what he was wanting to call him. 63 And asking for a tablet he wrote saying, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. 64 And immeditately his mouth was opened, lv and his tongue, and he spoke praising God. 65 And fear came upon all who dwelt around them, and in the entire hill country of Judea these things were discussed.

66 And all those who heard these things kept them in their hearts saying, “Who then will this child be?” lvi And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying, 68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has visited and performed redemption for his people; 69 and he has raised up a horn lvii of salvation for us in the house of David his servant, 70 as he spoke through the mouth of the holy ones, the ones from eternity, his prophets, lviii 71 salvation lix from our enemies and from the hand of all those who hate us, 72 to perform mercy with our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath which he swore to our father Abraham, 74 lx to grant us, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all of the days of our life. 76 And you, child, shall be called a prophet of the Highest, for you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 through the tender mercy of our God, in which the East lxi out of high lxii has visited lxiii us, 79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Mark 16 - Luke 2

Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf. lxiv

  1. This is the common English title. ^
  2. ΚΑΤΑ ΛΟΥΚΑΝ (kata loukan) - “According to Luke” - The is the title given in the Greek text. ^
  3. ἐπεχείρησαν (epecheirêsan) - “endeavered” - found also in Acts 9:29; 19:13. ^
  4. It is evident from this statement in verse 1 (and in verse 3) that “many” had written an account of the good news of Christ. Not many of these written accounts have endured through time. Also, Luke says nothing bad about these accounts, but compares them to the apostles and any others of those early eyewitnesses and servants of the word (verse 2). Yet, Luke does say that his account is being written for accuracy (verse 4). ^
  5. λογου (logou) “word” - This language, “eyewitnesses and servants of the word” fits well with John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1-2; Revelation 19:13. ^
  6. θεοφιλε (theophile) - “Theophilus” - Nothing is known about this man other than Luke’s statement here and in Acts 1:1. His name appears to mean “God friend.” ^
  7. ἀσφάλειαν (asphaleian) - “certainty” - found also only in Acts 5:23 “securely” and 1 Thessalonians 5:3 “safety.” ^
  8. λογων (logôn) - “words” - KJV, NKJV, NAS, NIV “things.” ^
  9. This Herod is not the Herod of Acts 12, since this Herod died while Christ was yet young (Matthew 2:19-20). Moreover, we know this is the same Herod as spoken of in Matthew 2:19-20, because the births of John the Baptist and Joshua are only about six months apart (Luke 1:26). ^
  10. Nehemiah 12:3 ^
  11. αμεμπτοι (amemptoi) - “blameless” - How can anyone be found “blameless” before the Lord (Psalm 143:2)? Job was also found blameless (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3). God told Abraham to be blameless (Genesis 17:1, it is possible). Take note where else this word (αμεμπτοι) can be found: Philippians 2:15; 3:6 (the law provided atonement for sin, e.g. Leviticus 1:4; 5:1-6); 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (vs. 13 is a potential reality). Note what David says in 1 Samuel 22:24-28 (see also verse 33 “he makes my way blameless” [Psalm 16:2]). Note also Psalm 19:13. There “blameless” is parallel with “innocent of great transgression.” See also 1 John 1:7-9; Psalm 37:6; Proverbs 11:20. ^
  12. δικαιωμασιν (dikaiômasin) - “righteous requirements” - This same Greek word is close to the word “righteous” (δικαιοι, dikaioi) earlier in this verse, and is translated “righteous requirements” in the NKJV & NIV in Romans 8:4; and there the sense is similar as in this passage. It is also used in Romans 1:32 (“righteous judgment” NKJV); 2:26 (“righteous requirements”); 5:16 (“justification”), 18 (“righteous act”); Hebrews 9:1 (“ordinances of divine”), 10 (fleshly “ordinances”); Revelation 15:4 (“judgments”); 19:8 (“righteous acts”). The righteous requirements of the Lord included the law (Malachi 4:4). ^
  13. Even though they were righteous, and children are a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127), this verse proves that a barren couple is not necessarily estranged from God (see also Genesis 11:30; 25:21; 29:31; Judges 13:2-3; Psalm 113:9; Isaiah 54:1/Galatians 4:27). Although, God promised the Israelites they would not have a barren woman among them if they would keep his commandments (Exodus 23:26; Deuteronomy 7:14). ^
  14. στειρα (steira) - “sterile” - NKJV “barren” - found also only in Luke 1:36; 23:29; Galatians 4:27. ^
  15. ημεραις (êmerais) - “days” - NAS footnotes, “Lit., days.” ^
  16. Proverbs 16:33 ^
  17. ἄγγελος (angelos) - “messenger” - This word means “messenger.” It is used of messengers of men (e.g. Luke 7:24; 9:51-52; James 2:25) and messengers of God (e.g. Matthew 1:20; 2:13; 11:10 - here the messenger is John). ^
  18. Matthew 11:7-11 (Luke 7:28 “not a greater prophet”). Matthew 11:18 records they said of him that he had a demon. ^
  19. He also wore camel’s hair, ate locust and wild honey (Mark 1:6), and lived in the deserts (Luke 1:80). ^
  20. Similar idea found in Psalm 22:10. ^
  21. Proverbs 11:30 ^
  22. Christ - John 1:6-8 ^
  23. In Matthew 11:14 & 17:12 (same, Mark 9:11-13) Jesus says he is Elijah (John says he is not, John 1:21), and also adds Elijah is yet to come in Matthew 17:10-13 (Malachi 4:5; see also Matthew 17:3). Spirit and power of Elijah? See 1 Kings 17:1-2 Kings 2:11 (Luke 9:54/1 Kings 1:9-15/Luke 3:7) [2 Kings 2:9 “double portion”]. Also, interesting to note, Elijah was a hairy man (2 Kings 1:8).  ^
  24. δικαιων (dikaiôn) - “righteous” - This is the same word (different form) used in verse six for John’s parents being righteous ^
  25. Malachi 4:6 ^
  26. Gabriel is mentioned also in Daniel 8:16; 9:21; Luke 1:26. ^
  27. ευαγγελισασθαι σοι ταυτα (euangelisasthai soi tauta) - “to bring you these good messages” - NKJV has “these glad tidings.” ευαγγελισασθαι is the same word used for “to preach the gospel” (e.g. Acts 16:10 NKJV). ^
  28. Gabriel’s words are fulfilled in Luke 1:64. ^
  29. Even though John 8:47 is true, this exemplifies that it is also true that a believer is capable of momentarily not believing God’s word (see also Ephesians 4:14), just as they are capable of sin (1 John 1:7-10). Those born of God are incapable of continuing in it (1 John 3:9; see also 2 John 9). ^
  30. The messenger gave him a sign - an inability to speak for more than nine months! ^
  31. διανευων (dianeuôn) - “motioning” (NAS footnotes “or nodding to”) - This word is only used here, but νευω (neuô), a word akin to this, is used in John 13:24 (NKJV “motioned”) and Acts 24:10 (NKJV “nodded”). ^
  32. ονειδος (oneidos) - “reproach” (KJV, NKJV), NAS & NIV “disgrace.” It is seen as a reproach (Genesis 30:22-23; 1 Samuel 1:6). ^
  33. “sixth month” - see verse 36. ^
  34. παρθενον (parthenon) - “virgin” - used also in Matthew 1:23; 25:1, 7, 11; Acts 21:9; 1 Corinthians 7:25, 28, 34, 36-38; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 14:4. ^
  35. μαριαμ (mariam) - “Mary” - See footnote for Matthew 1:16. ^
  36. λογω (logô) - “word” - This same word is found in verse 37 except there in the Greek it is “ρημα” (hrama). ^
  37. Very great (e.g. 1 Timothy 6:13-15; Revelation 19:16)! ^
  38. He has always been the son of the Highest (Psalm 2:12; Proverbs 30:4; Hebrews 7:3; 13:8). ^
  39. Indeed He is the Highest - 1 Kings 8:27; Psalm 113:4-6. ^
  40. Daniel 2:44; 4:3, 34-35, 37; 7:9-27. ^
  41. “The Son of God” - born of a virgin, with no earthly father (like Hebrews 7:3). See Philippians 2:5-11. ^
  42. The context here is very physical. See Jeremiah 32:27. Joshua knew this well (Mark 14:36; interesting, He also said - Matthew 26:39) ^
  43. Unlike Zacharias, she believed, and this is more impossible than what Gabriel told Zacharias! ^
  44. Filled with the Spirit? See Luke 4:28; 5:26; 6:11; John 16:16; Acts 3:10; 5:17; 13:52; and then Acts 4:31; 13:1-12; Ephesians 5:18/Colossians 3:16/Galatians 3:2-6. ^
  45. See Luke 11:27-28. ^
  46. “mother of my Lord” - Is/was Mary the mother of God? Yes (John 1:1, 14; John 19:25-27, see also Mark 3:33 and Hebrews 7:3). ^
  47. Psalm 97:12; 99:1-3; 105:1-3; 106:47; 111:9; 145:21 ^
  48. Psalm 103:1-4, 8-18 ^
  49. Mary speaks similiarly to Hannah (1 Samuel 2). See also Daniel 4:34-37 and Job 12:24-25. ^
  50. Job 12:23a ^
  51. See also Psalm 107:9, 40-41; 146:5-9 ^
  52. εμεγαλυνεν κυριος το ελεος αυτης (emegalunen kurios to eleos autou met autês) “the Lord magnified his mercy with her” - Psalm 115:1 ^
  53. Leviticus 12:3 ^
  54. According to this, John the Baptist was initially called Zacharias. ^
  55. Luke 1:20 ^
  56. He will be, see Isaiah 40:3-5 (Luke 3:4-6; John 1:14) and Malachi 3:1-3. He will be the greatest prophet and the greatest man ever born of a woman (Luke 7:28; Matthew 11:11). This makes John the Baptist greater than Enoch, Noah, Job, Abraham, Moses, Samson, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, etc.. ^
  57. For “horn” see also 1 Samuel 2:1, 10; 1 Chronicles 25:5; Psalm 75:10; 132:17-18; Jeremiah 48:25; Lamentations 2:17; Daniel 7:24; 8:7-8; Micah 4:13. ^
  58. των αγιων των απ αιωνος προφητων αυτου (tôn agiôn tôn ap aiônos prophêtôn auton) - “the holy ones, the ones from eternity, his prophets” - NKJV “His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,” NAS “His holy prophets from of old,” NIV “his holy prophets of long ago.” Similar wording about the prophets is found in Acts 3:21 (των αγιων αυτου προφητων απ αιωνος, tôn agiôn autou prophêtôn ap aiônos). See also Acts 15:18 (γνωστα απ αιωνος) and John 9:32 (εκ του αιωνος ουκ ηκουσθη). αιωνος (“eternity”) is a word in which context weighs on how it is to be translated. It is translated with the idea of “since the beginning of the world” by the NKJV (e.g. John 9:32), “eternity” or “forever” (e.g. Matthew 6:13; John 6:51, 58; 12:34; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; 1 John 2:17; 2 John 2), “age” (Matthew 12:32; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; 3:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:21; 2:7; Hebrews 6:5; 1 Timothy 6:17; Titus 2:12), and “world” (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3). These latter “world” translations (NKJV) all appear to be able to be translated “age” or “ages” as well. See also Jude 25 (εις παντας τους αιωνας, eis pantas tous aionas). Jude 25 could be translated “unto all the ages.” Unlike αιωνος (aiônos) above, the Greek word αιωνιος (aiônios) means “eternal” every time (e.g. Matthew 18:8; 19:16, 29; 25:41, 46; Mark 3:29; Revelation 14:6; etc.).

    Moreover, see footnote for Matthew 21:19 for use of this word, aiwnov (aiônos), in the singular (as it is singular here in Luke 1:70) in the phrase εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα (eis ton aiôna).

    Also, note “prophets” is used for the written word of God in Matthew 5:17; 7:12; 22:40; Luke 16:29-31; 24:27; Acts 24:14. ^

  59. Salvation here is described as salvation from our enemies (see also Psalm 54:4-5; 97:10; 108:13; 112:8; 139:19-22; 143:12). ^
  60. In the Greek, verse 74 begins after “to grant us.” ^
  61. ανατολη - “East” - Every other time this word is used in the New Testament, it means “East” (Matthew 2:1-2, 9; 8:11; 24:27; Luke 13:29; Revelation 7:2; 16:12; 21:13). See also “the morning star” 2 Peter 1:19 (φωσφορος, phôsphoros, more literally, “bright light”); Revelation 2:28; 22:16 (τον αστερα τον πρωινον, ton astepa ton prôinon, more literally, “the early [i.e. in the morning] star”).  ^
  62. υψους (upsous) - “high” - found also only in Luke 24:49 (“high”); Ephesians 3:18 (“height”); 4:8 (“high”); James 1:9 (“exaltation”); Revelation 21:16 (“height”).  ^
  63. επεσκεψατο (epeskespato) - “has visited” - Critical Text has επισκεψεται (episkespetai) - “will visit.” ^
  64. Mirrored here. ^

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