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In this lesson:
The annunciation! Study Tip: The Bible can be complicated, so it helps to study more than one translation. As you read each lesson, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. Also, check the margin notes in blue and click on the links. |
The Annunciation of Mary
By the Italian renaissance painter Pietro Vannucci (1446-1523) |
Who was:
David -
David was a prophet, the author of about eighty Psalms in "The Book of Psalms," a direct ancestor of Jesus, and the second and greatest king of Israel. David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a poet and shepherd until invited to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Meeting King Saul and becoming his armor-bearer changed his life, forever. At about the age of twenty, David killed Goliath of Gath in battle (1 Samuel 17:1-58), became a leader of Israel's army and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. In time, David's popularity forced him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) to the land of the Philistines. David lived as a fugitive for years. After Saul and: his son Ishbosheth (heir to the throne) passed away, David returned to become king of Judah and eventually all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5). David ushered in a golden era and led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. His forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for its fairness as he established a sound civil government. God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and although David sinned many times, he always repented and received God's forgiveness. When David died at the age of seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon became Israel's third king. God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through David's family. That blessing came in the form of Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David (Acts 2:29-30). Thus, it was important for "The Gospel According to Matthew" to give Jesus' genealogy and show that Jesus was descended from King David (Matthew 1:1-1:16) and fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies. David's story can be read in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33; 2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.
Jacob -
Also called Israel. With his twin brother Esau, Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham. Jews consider him the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was Jacob's son, Joseph, who was sold into bondage by his brothers. Jacob, his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham are three of the most important figures in the Old Testament. God chose Jacob over his older brother Esau to fulfill His promise to make Israel a great and populous nation (Genesis 48:1-22). With his mother's help, Jacob conned his older twin brother Esau out of his father's blessing and birthright (Genesis 25:27-34; Genesis 27:1-45). This included the land of Canaan promised by God to Jacob's father and grandfather Abraham (Genesis 28:4). Esau vowed to kill Jacob for his trickery (Genesis 27:41) forcing Jacob to flee to his uncle Laban, in Haran. On his way, he had a vision of climbing a ladder ("Jacob's ladder") to heaven, which confirmed God's promise to his fathers. Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled. Jacob became such a shining example of faith that even when near death, he trusted God's promise to make Israel a great nation (Hebrews 11:21-22). Jacob died at the age of one hundred and forty-seven (Genesis 47:28). Moses led Jacob's descendants out of slavery in Egypt. Forty years later, Joshua led them into the promised land. The twelve tribes of Israel are named after Jacob's sons. You can learn more about Jacob in Genesis 25:1-37:36.
David -
David was a prophet, the author of about eighty Psalms in "The Book of Psalms," a direct ancestor of Jesus, and the second and greatest king of Israel. David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a poet and shepherd until invited to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Meeting King Saul and becoming his armor-bearer changed his life, forever. At about the age of twenty, David killed Goliath of Gath in battle (1 Samuel 17:1-58), became a leader of Israel's army and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. In time, David's popularity forced him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) to the land of the Philistines. David lived as a fugitive for years. After Saul and: his son Ishbosheth (heir to the throne) passed away, David returned to become king of Judah and eventually all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5). David ushered in a golden era and led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. His forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for its fairness as he established a sound civil government. God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and although David sinned many times, he always repented and received God's forgiveness. When David died at the age of seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon became Israel's third king. God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through David's family. That blessing came in the form of Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David (Acts 2:29-30). Thus, it was important for "The Gospel According to Matthew" to give Jesus' genealogy and show that Jesus was descended from King David (Matthew 1:1-1:16) and fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies. David's story can be read in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33; 2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.
Jacob -
Also called Israel. With his twin brother Esau, Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah and the grandson of Abraham. Jews consider him the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was Jacob's son, Joseph, who was sold into bondage by his brothers. Jacob, his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham are three of the most important figures in the Old Testament. God chose Jacob over his older brother Esau to fulfill His promise to make Israel a great and populous nation (Genesis 48:1-22). With his mother's help, Jacob conned his older twin brother Esau out of his father's blessing and birthright (Genesis 25:27-34; Genesis 27:1-45). This included the land of Canaan promised by God to Jacob's father and grandfather Abraham (Genesis 28:4). Esau vowed to kill Jacob for his trickery (Genesis 27:41) forcing Jacob to flee to his uncle Laban, in Haran. On his way, he had a vision of climbing a ladder ("Jacob's ladder") to heaven, which confirmed God's promise to his fathers. Jacob and Esau eventually reconciled. Jacob became such a shining example of faith that even when near death, he trusted God's promise to make Israel a great nation (Hebrews 11:21-22). Jacob died at the age of one hundred and forty-seven (Genesis 47:28). Moses led Jacob's descendants out of slavery in Egypt. Forty years later, Joshua led them into the promised land. The twelve tribes of Israel are named after Jacob's sons. You can learn more about Jacob in Genesis 25:1-37:36.
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 1:26-38
The Messiah is coming 26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. * *Some ancient manuscripts do not have the words "blessed art thou among women." 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. |
Margin notes:
"In the sixth month." (1:26) - Of Elisabeth's pregnancy. See Luke 1:24-25 (lesson 101). "The angel Gabriel was sent from God." (1:26) - As prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 seven hundred years earlier. "Galilee." (1:26) - A small area in Palestine covering just forty-five miles from its northern tip at Mount Hermon to its southern near Carmel and Gilboa. Nazareth and approximately two hundred other small villages were located in Galilee. People from Galilee had a distinct accent and were considered so disreputable they were not allowed to testify in legal proceedings. "Nazareth." (1:26) - Jesus was born in Bethlehem but raised in Nazareth. Nazareth was a small village in lower Galilee, northern Israel, with a population of about 700 (Luke 1:26). It sat approximately seventy-five miles north of Jerusalem and fourteen miles west of the Sea of Galilee, set along the southern ridges of Lebanon. The village was situated in a mountain basin and enjoyed mild temperatures and ample rainfall. Although Galilee was predominantly Gentile, Nazareth was primarily Jewish with an active synagogue that Jesus likely attended. The main road connecting Egypt and Asia passed near Nazareth, bringing many travelers and tradesmen to the area. In Jesus' day, the citizens of Nazareth were looked down on as second-class citizens (John 1:46). Despite being raised in Nazareth (Matthew 2:21-23; Mark 1:9), Jesus faced rejection when He returned to teach in His hometown (Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-4). In fact, His old neighbors tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:22-30). Nazareth was destroyed by a Muslim army in medieval times; little remains of the original village. It was rebuilt close to its original location and today boasts a population of 80,000. "A virgin." (1:27) - The Christian belief that Jesus is the Son of God hangs on the fact that He was born of a virgin. "If we believe in the Deity of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead, what is gained by discrediting the Virgin Birth? The resurrection is the greatest of miracles. If we do not believe that, why concern ourselves with Christ at all? If we do believe it, then why carp at the other parts of the miraculous story?" ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 488) "Espoused." (1:27) - Means engaged to be married. An engagement usually lasted a year and could only be broken by a divorce. "Cast in her mind." (1:29) - "Questioned in her mind." "Shalt call his name Jesus." (1:31) - The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means savior. In the Old Testament, Joshua led the Jews to the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1-2), just as Jesus leads Christians into eternal life. "His father David." (1:32) - God promised that a descendant of King David would save mankind from sin and reign forever (2 Samuel 7:13-16; 1 Chronicles 17:12; Isaiah 9:6-9; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:17; Hebrews 1:8.). Jesus is that descendant. "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (1:34) - Matthew 1:21-23. "That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (1:35) - A reference to Jesus, who was born holy, without sin, as prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 seven hundred years earlier. "The handmaid of the Lord." (1:38) - "The servant of the Lord." "The angel departed from her." (1:38) - An angel, perhaps Gabriel, also visited Joseph to ease his concerns over marrying Mary (Matthew 1:19-21). |
New Living Translation
Luke 1:26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30 "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"
34 Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."
35 The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36 What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's now in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30 "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!"
34 Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin."
35 The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36 What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's now in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
38 Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." (1:26-28)
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." (1:30-31)
"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." (1:30-31)
Today's Question:
1. Did being "highly favoured" bring blessings to Mary? (1:28)
Feel free to forward these lessons to others. If you know anyone who would enjoy receiving them direct, let me know.
1. Did being "highly favoured" bring blessings to Mary? (1:28)
Feel free to forward these lessons to others. If you know anyone who would enjoy receiving them direct, let me know.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Some feel that being "highly favoured" didn't bring "blessings" to Mary. With the unusual story of being pregnant by the Holy Spirit, she risked scorn by family and friends. Her fiancé, Joseph, considered ending their engagement (Matthew 1:19). If he had, having a child out of wedlock could have prevented Mary from ever getting married. If her parents had turned against her, she would have been reduced to begging to feed the baby. After the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph were forced to flee to Egypt to save their child from being murdered by the King (Matthew 2:13-15). She lived to see her Son rejected, beaten, and crucified in front of her. Thanks to Mary's faith, her Son opened the door to salvation. This was the blessing Mary received and why she's still considered "highly favoured" two thousand years later.
Application thought for the day:
What lesson does this segment teach about God's divine favor?
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke