Luke
1:1-17
Lesson 100
1:1-17
Lesson 100
Luke 1:1-17
John the Baptist 1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. 5 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. |
Margin notes:
"Many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration." (1:1) - "Many have written an account." "The course of Abia." (1:5) - Means "The order of Abia." Abia (also called Abijah) was the eighth order of priests (1 Chronicles 24:10). Per instructions laid out by King David (1 Chronicles 24:3-19), priests were divided into twenty-four different orders. "Both righteous before God." (1:6) - "Both believed in God." "They both were now well stricken in years." (1:7) - "They were both well along in years." "While he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course." (1:8) - Means, Zacharias' priestly order (Abia) was on duty at the Temple that week. "His lot was to burn incense." (1:9) - Each priest was assigned weekly job in the Temple by lottery. This week, Zacharias was to burn the incense in the Temple twice a day (Exodus 30:7-8). The rising smoke from the burning incense symbolically carried Jewish prayers to heaven. The honor of burning the incense was the height of a priest's career. Due to the large number of priests, many were never selected for such a distinction. "The whole multitude of the people were praying without." (1:10) - "Many people were praying outside." "Drink neither wine nor strong drink." (1:15) - To show their devotion to God, devout Jews would take a Nazarite vow not to drink alcohol or cut their hair for a set period (Numbers 6:1-21). "He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias." (1:17) - The closing lines of the Old Testament promised that Elijah would return to prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). The angel (Gabriel) is telling Zacharias, the 400-year-old promise is about to be fulfilled. "To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children." (1:17) - The last specified virtue in the Old Testament, parental love (Malachi 4:6). |