Lukechapter 1

A.Why Luke Wrote It Down for Theophilusvv. 1-4

1 Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

B.Gabriel Comes to Zacharias at the Altarvv. 5-25

5 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 Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years. 8 One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside. 11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. 16 Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God. 17 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 wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 “How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.” 19 “I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple. 22 When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless. 23 And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home. 24 After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

C.Gabriel Comes to Mary at Nazarethvv. 26-38

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 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. 28 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” 34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since 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 Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

D.Mary Visits Elizabeth; My Soul Magnifies the Lordvv. 39-56

39 In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, 40 where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.” 46 Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful, 55 as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.” 56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

E.John Is Born and Zacharias Prophesiesvv. 57-80

57 When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. 60 But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. 63 Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events. 66 And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. 67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, 70 as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, 73 the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. 76 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, 77 to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, 79 to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” 80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Luke's prologue to Theophilus.

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Luke's prologue to Theophilus. Zacharias at the altar, Gabriel, the naming of John promised. Annunciation to Mary: 'behold the handmaid of the Lord.' The Visitation; Mary's Magnificat. Birth of John; Zacharias's Benedictus. Two song-bracketed scenes open Luke's infancy narrative.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Luke — Luke overview

A. 1–4 Why Luke Wrote It Down for Theophilus
B. 5–25 Gabriel Comes to Zacharias at the Altar
C. 26–38 Gabriel Comes to Mary at Nazareth
D. 39–56 Mary Visits Elizabeth; My Soul Magnifies the Lord
E. 57–80 John Is Born and Zacharias Prophesies

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Luke 116 verses
- Luke 1:12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.
- Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
- Luke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- Luke 1:19“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
- Luke 1:20And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
- Luke 1:22When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
- Read Luke 1: 10 more there →
Acts 105 verses
- Acts 10:3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
- Acts 10:4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
- Acts 10:17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
- Acts 10:31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
- Acts 10:43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
- Read Acts 10 →
Genesis 175 verses
- Genesis 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
- Genesis 17:7I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
- Genesis 17:12Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.
- Genesis 17:17Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah give birth at the age of ninety?”
- Genesis 17:19But God replied, “Your wife Sarah will indeed bear you a son, and you are to name him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
- Read Genesis 17 →
Matthew 14 verses
- Matthew 1:18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
- Matthew 1:20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
- Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
- Matthew 1:25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.
- Read Matthew 1 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Luke 24 verses
- Luke 2:19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
- Luke 2:40And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
- Luke 2:51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
- Luke 2:52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
- Read Luke 2 →
John 203 verses
- John 20:28Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!”
- John 20:29Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
- John 20:31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
- Read John 20 →
2 Peter 13 verses
- 2 Peter 1:16For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- 2 Peter 1:19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- 2 Peter 1:21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
- Read 2 Peter 1 →
Acts 263 verses
- Acts 26:16‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
- Acts 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
- Acts 26:25But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
- Read Acts 26 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.