Ambrose of Milan

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants…

“(Expos. Ev. Luc. l. i. c. i.) For as many among the Jewish people prophesied by inspiration of the Spirit of God, but others were false prophets rather than prophets, so now also have many attempted to write Gospels which the good moneychanger refuses to…”

just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

“This expression does not fit, so that we may believe it to be more of a ministry of the word seen than heard.”

Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the…

“Now, it is written that the Gospel is addressed to Theophilus, that is, to him whom God loves.”

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of…

“The divine Scripture teaches us that not only the virtues of those who are worthy of praise, but also parents should be praised; so that, like an inherited legacy of unblemished purity, they surpass those whom we desire to praise.”

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

“But a saint is not only the blessing of his parents, but also the salvation of many; as it follows, And many shall rejoice at his birth. Parents are reminded here to rejoice at the birth of saints, and to give thanks.”

And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the…

“Well, these things are connected; for the spirit is never without virtue, nor is virtue without the spirit.”

to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

“Therefore he who undertook to prove the mystery of the Incarnation in its incorrupt state, did not think it necessary to pursue at length the testimony of the Virgin Mary's virginity, lest he should be thought to be a defender rather than an assertor of…”

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

“It was said also of John, that he shall be great, but of him indeed as of a great man, of Christ, as of the great God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

“Behold now the humility, the devotion of the virgin. For it follows, But Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord. She calls herself His handmaid, who is chosen to be His mother, so far was she from being exalted by the sudden promise.”

In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah,

“The Angel, when he announced the hidden mysteries to the Virgin, that he might build up her faith by an example, related to her the conception of a barren woman.”

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

“But soon the blessed fruits of Mary's coming and our Lord's presence are made evident. For it follows, And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. Mark the distinction and propriety of each word.”

And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

“She says it not ignorantly, for she knew it was by the grace and operation of the Holy Spirit that the mother of the prophet should be saluted by the mother of his Lord, to the advancement and growth of her own pledge; but being…”

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

“You see that Mary did not hesitate, but believed; and therefore she obtained the fruit of faith. Blessed, he says, are you who believed.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

“Mary abode with Elisabeth until she had accomplished the time of her bringing forth; as it is said, And Mary abode, &c.”

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

“If you carefully observe, you will find that the word signifying fulness is no where used except at the birth of the righteous. Hence it is said, Now Elisabeth's full time came.”

On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. But his mother replied, “No!

“The holy Evangelist has especially remarked, that many thought the child should be called after his father Zacharias, in order that we might understand, not that any name of his kinsfolk was displeasing to his mother, but that the same word had been communicated to…”

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

“Rightly also, from that moment was his tongue loosed, for that which unbelief had bound, faith set free. Let us then also believe, in order that our tongue, which has been bound by the chains of unbelief, may be loosed by the voice of reason.”

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

“God in His mercy and readiness to pardon our sins, not only restores to us what He has taken away, but grants us favours even beyond our expectations.”

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

“In prophesying of the Lord he rightly addresses the prophet, showing that prophecy also is a gift of the Lord, in order that he might not, while enumerating public benefits, seem to be so ungrateful as to be silent of his own.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

“Mark also, in how few words Elisabeth prophesies, in how many Zacharias, and yet each spoke filled with the Holy Spirit; but this discipline is preserved, that women may study rather to learn what are the Divine commands than to teach them.”

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

“He has rightly added the name of the governor, to mark the course of time. For if the names of the Consuls are affixed to the tables of prices, how much more ought the time to be noted down, of that event which was the…”

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

“But in order that men might know that it was an enrolment of righteousness, there came up to it Joseph and Mary, the just man and the virgin. He who was to be guardian of the Word and she who was to bring it forth.”

While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son.

“Therefore, He was a little child, an infant, so that you, a man, may become perfect; He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you may be freed from the snares of death; He was in a manger, so that you may be on the…”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.

“How remarkably Scripture weighs the import of each word. For when we behold the flesh of the Lord, we behold the Word, which is the Son. Let not this seem to you a slight example of faith, because of the humble character of the shepherds.”

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

“Esteem not the words of the shepherds as mean and despicable. For from the shepherds Mary increases her faith, as it follows: Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart.”