1151 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the people waited for Zacharias,.... That were without, in the court of the Israelites, praying there, while he was offering incense: these were waiting for his coming out, in order to be blessed by him, according to Numbers 6:23 and be dismissed: and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple; beyond the usual time of burning incense;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them,.... Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used: for he beckoned unto them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his hands the Ethiopic version adds, "with his hand": or...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration,.... In the order of the course, which might be three, four, five, or six days, according to the number of the heads of the house of their fathers in the course; [See comments on Lu 1:5] were accomplished: for though he was deaf and dumb, he was not hereby disqualified for service....
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And after those days,.... The days of his ministration in the temple, quickly after his return home; the Ethiopic version reads, "after two days": his wife Elisabeth conceived; according to the angels prediction, and notwithstanding her barrenness, and the unbelief of her husband; and hid herself five months. The Arabic and Persic versions render...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Thus hath the Lord dealt with me,.... In a very gracious and bountiful manner; in giving her strength to conceive a son in her old age, and such an one that was to be great, and so useful in his day; of which her husband had doubtless informed her by writing, though he could not speak: in the days wherein he looked on me; with a favourable eye,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And in the sixth month,.... After Elisabeth's conception; for so long was John the Baptist conceived before Christ, and so long he was born before him; and it seems as if there was the same distance between the public ministry of the one, and the other: John was before Christ, as man, being his forerunner; but Christ was preferred unto him as...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
To a virgin,.... A pure virgin, that never knew man; [See comments on Lu 1:34] and yet espoused to a man whose name was Joseph; but they were not come together, nor had he taken her for his wife, and home to his house, nor had they cohabited: of the house of David; which, according to the grammatical construction of the words, may be connected...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the angel came in unto her,.... Into her house, and into the room where she was: and said, hail; all health, happiness, and prosperity attend thee; Matthew 28:9 thou art highly favoured; or graciously accepted, or hast obtained grace; not referring to electing, redeeming; justifying, pardoning, adopting, and sanctifying grace, which she had in...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And when she saw him,.... The Persic version renders it, "when Mary saw the angel"; which expresses the true sense of the words, The Vulgate Latin reads, "when she heard"; i.e. the salutation: she was troubled at his saying; at his speaking to her; she was surprised at the sight of him, and more at what he said to her; and cast in her mind, or...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the angel said unto her, c] Observing the consternation and confusion she was in fear not, Mary; he calls her by her name, signifying that she was well known to him, as the saints are to the ministering angels, who are often sent unto them, encamp about them, and do them many good offices; and bids her not be afraid, he had no ill design upon...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb,.... Though a pure virgin, which never knew a man; and therefore, "a behold", is prefixed to it, as being what was extraordinary and wonderful; as it is also, in the prophesy of it, in Isaiah 7:14 to which the angel manifestly refers, and is, by Matthew cited, as accomplished hereby; [See comments on...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
He shall be great,.... In his person, as God-man; this child born, and Son given, being the angel of the great counsel, the mighty God, and everlasting Father; Isaiah 9:6 which is here referred to; and in his offices, in his prophetic office, being that great and famous prophet Moses spoke of, mighty in word and deed, in his doctrine and miracles;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he shall reign over the house of Jacob,.... Not over the Jews, the posterity of Jacob, in a literal sense; but over the whole Israel of God, consisting of Jews and Gentiles. For as his father David reigned over the Idumeans, Syrians, and others, as well as over the house of Judah and Israel, so this his son shall reign over both Jews and...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then said Mary to the angel, how shall this be,.... This she said not as doubting the truth of what was said; for she required no sign, as Zacharias did; nor is she charged with, and blamed for unbelief, as he was; yea, it is expressly said, Lu 1:45 that she believed: nor was this a curious question, as whether she should have this son by a man in...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the angel answered and said unto her,.... The angel gave her an account of the manner in which what he had said should be effected, as well as observed some things for the strengthening of her faith. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee. The words, "upon thee", are left out in the Syriac and Persic versions; but are retained in others, and in...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And behold thy cousin Elisabeth,.... For though Elisabeth was of the daughters of Aaron, or of the tribe of Levi by her father's side, yet might be of the tribe of Judah by her mother's side, and so akin to Mary. The Persic version calls her "aunt by the mother's side": intermarriages between the two tribes of Levi and Judah were frequent; nor...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For with God nothing shall be impossible. That is consistent with his nature and perfections, with his counsels, purposes, and promises: every thing that he has said, purposed, or promised, he is able to do, and will; every word that he has spoken, every thing predicted by his prophets, or declared by his angels, and particularly this of a...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Mary said, behold the handmaid of the Lord,.... In which words she expresses her obedience of faith; she owns herself to be the handmaid of the Lord, and desires to obey him, and be submissive to him as such; and tacitly acknowledges her meanness, and great unworthiness: be it unto me according to thy word; she assented to what the angel said...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Mary arose in those days,.... The Ethiopic version renders it, "in that day"; directly, immediately, as soon as the angel was gone from her; partly to know the truth of things, and to make use of the sign which had been given her, for the further confirmation of her faith, which was very right and proper for her to do; and partly to converse...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And entered into the house of Zacharias, c] Which was in the above city, and might be well known to her: and saluted Elisabeth not Zacharias; either because he was not at home; or because he was deaf and dumb, and could neither hear her salutation, nor return it; or because it was not usual for women to salute men, nor men to salute women; [See...