Luke 1:13
in Luke 1But 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Luke 1
Commentary
24 notes on this verse(in vita Anton.) Whereby it is not difficult to discern between good and bad spirits, for if joy has succeeded to fear, we may know that relief has come from God, because the peace of the soul is a sign of the Divine Presence; but if the fear remains unshaken, it is an enemy who is seen.
This site's exposition
Just then an angel of
on Luke 1:11-13
The angel stood at the right side of the altar of incense, the side of favor in Jewish tradition. The name he gives, John, means the Lord is gracious.
This site's exposition
your prayer has been heard
The prayer is most likely the couple's old prayer for a son, which Henry says God now answers long after it was made. Clarke also hears in it the prayer for Israel's deliverance. The name John means the Lord's gracious gift.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
(de Quæst. Evan. l. i. q. l.) Now here we must first consider that it is not likely that Zacharias, when offering sacrifice for the sins or for the salvation or redemption of the people, would neglect the public petitions, to pray (though himself an old man, and his wife also old) that he might receive children; and, next, above all that no one prays for what he despairs of ever obtaining. And even up to this time, sc much had he despaired of ever having children, that he would not believe, even when an angel promised it to him. The words, Thy prayer is heard, must be understood therefore to refer to the people; and as salvation, redemption, and the putting away of the sins of the people was to be through Christ, it is told Zacharias that a son shall be born to him, because that son was ordained to be the forerunner of Christ.
Or, as follows; Divine mercy is ever full and overflowing, not narrowed to a single gift, but pouring in an abundant store of blessings; as in this case, where first the fruit of his prayer is promised; and next, that his barren wife shall bear a child, whose name is announced as follows; And thou shalt call his name John.
A new face suddenly presenting itself to the human eye, troubles and startles the mind. The angel knowing this to be the nature of man, first dispels the alarm, as it follows, But the angel said unto him, Fear not. The angel not only soothes his fears, but gladdens him with good tidings, adding, For thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son.
Whenever the soul continues to be fearful, it is the enemy who is present. The evil spirits do not dispel the fear of their presence, as the great archangel Gabriel did for Mary and Zechariah.
[Daniel 8:16-17] "And I heard the voice of a man in the midst of the Ulai, and he cried out and said: 'Gabriel, make this vision intelligible (Vulgate: make this man to understand the vision).' And he came and stood near to where I was standing." The Jews claim that this man who directed Gabriel to explain the vision to Daniel was Michael. Quite appropriately it was Gabriel, who has been put in charge of battles, to whom this duty was assigned, inasmuch as the vision had to do with battles and contests between kings and even between kingdoms themselves. For Gabriel is translated into our language as "the strength of, or the mighty one of, God." And so at that time also when the Lord was about to be born and to declare war against the demons and to triumph over the world, Gabriel came to Zacharias (Luke 1:11-20) and to Mary (Luke 1:26-27). And then we read in the Psalms concerning the Lord in His triumph: "Who is this king of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle; He is the King of glory" (Psalm 24:8). But whenever it is medicine or healing that is needed, it is Raphael who is sent, for his name is rendered as "the healing of," or "the medicine of God" - that is, if one cares to accept the authority of the Book of Tobias (Tobit 12:11-15). […]
16 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
He saw a vision of an angel which also said unto him: Fear not, Zacharias, because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son; as if he had said, "Thou hast entered here to ask for the people remission of …
(sup.) Or it means, that this was to be the proof of his prayer having been heard, namely, that a son should be born to him, crying, Behold the Lamb of God! (Joann. Hom. xviii.) Which must be the meaning here, for those who from their earliest years were destined to shine forth in virtue, received their names at the very first from a divine source; while those who were to rise up in later years, had a name given them afterwards.
The Medieval Church8 voices
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Conjugal chastity accords with the law of grace by reason of the angelic announcement, according to that passage of Luke 1: Fear not, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and Elizabeth your wife shall bear you a son: now Zechariah had merited this through …
And your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; and you shall call his name John. By saying the prayer is heard, he immediately promises the birth of his wife. Not that he who had entered to sacrifice for the people could have prayed for …
It is meant as a token of particular merit, when a man has a name given him or changed by God.
John is therefore interpreted, "one in whom is grace, or the grace of God;" by which name it is declared, first, that grace was given to his parents, to whom in their old age a son was to be born; next, to John himself, who was to become great before the Lord; lastly, also to the children of Israel, whom he was to convert to the Lord. Hence it follows, And he shall be a joy unto thee, and a cause of rejoicing.
Whenever in the Scriptures a name is imposed or changed … by God, it is indicative of great praise and virtue. It was good that our Redeemer's precursor was ordered to be called John. The name John means "the grace of the Lord" or "in …
Why did the Angel say, "Your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son," since Zechariah was praying not for a son, but for the sins of the people? Some say: since Zechariah was praying for the sins of the …
As if when Zacharias asks, How shall I know this? the angel answers, Because Elisabeth shall bring forth a son, thou shalt believe that the sins of thy people are forgiven.
And the Angel said to him. Here is touched upon thirdly the announcement of the future conception, as strengthening the irascible power, as instructive of the rational power, and as consoling the concupiscible power. — It is shown to be strengthening in that he says: …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Thou shalt call his name John - John signifies the grace or favour of Jehovah. A name well suiting the person, who was afterward so highly in favour with God, and endued with abundance of grace; and who opened a way to the most glorious dispensation of grace in the Messiah's kingdom.
But God will now, in giving this mercy, look a great way back to the prayers that he had made long since for and with his wife, as Isaac for and with his, Gen. xxv. Note, Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten, though the thing prayed for is not presently given in.
But the angel said unto him, fear not, Zacharias,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Thy prayer is heard - That is, thy prayer for offspring. This, among the Jews, was an object of intense desire. No prospect was more gloomy to them than that of dying childless, so that their “name should perish.” Special pains, therefore, had been taken in the law to keep up the names of families by requiring a man to marry his brother’s wife, Deu 25:5.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
thy prayer is heard--doubtless for offspring, which by some presentiment he even yet had not despaired of. John--the same as "Johanan," so frequent in the Old Testament, meaning "Jehovah's gracious gift."
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Thy prayer is heard - This probably refers, 1st, to the frequent prayers which he had offered to God for a son; and 2dly, to those which he had offered for the deliverance and consolation of Israel. They are all heard - thou shalt have a son, and Israel shall be saved. If fervent faithful prayers be not immediately answered, they should not be considered as lost; all such are heard by the Lord, are registered in heaven, and shall be answered in the most effectual way, and in the best time. Answers to prayer are to be received by faith; but faith should not only accompany prayer while offered on earth, but follow it all its way to the throne of grace, and stay with it before the throne till dismissed with its answer to the waiting soul. Thou shalt call his name John - For the proper exposition of this name, see on Mar 1:4 (note).
The words behind it
28 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εἶπεν | eipen | Said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἄγγελος· | angelos | angel; | G32 → | 175 times |
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| φοβοῦ | phobou | do fear | G5399 → | 95 times |
| Ζαχαρία· | zacharia | Zechariah; | G2197 → | 11 times |
| διότι | dioti | because | G1360 → | 23 times |
| εἰσηκούσθη | eisekousthe | has been heard | G1522 → | |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δέησίς | deesis | prayer | G1162 → | 18 times |
| σου, | sou | of you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| γυνή | gune | wife | G1135 → | 211 times |
| σου | sou | of You | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| Ἐλισάβετ | elisabet | Elizabeth | G1665 → | 9 times |
| γεννήσει | gennesei | will bear | G1080 → | 97 times |
| υἱόν | huion | a son | G5207 → | 377 times |
| σοι, | soi | to you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| καλέσεις | kaleseis | you will call | G2564 → | 147 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| Ἰωάννην. | ioannen | John. | G2491 → | 134 times |
ΕἶπενSaid
eipenG2036 →925 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἄγγελος·angel;
angelosG32 →175 times
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
φοβοῦdo fear
phobouG5399 →95 times
Ζαχαρία·Zechariah;
zachariaG2197 →11 times
διότιbecause
diotiG1360 →23 times
εἰσηκούσθηhas been heard
eisekoustheG1522 →
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
δέησίςprayer
deesisG1162 →18 times
σου,of you,
souG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
γυνήwife
guneG1135 →211 times
σουof You
souG4771 →2973 times
ἘλισάβετElizabeth
elisabetG1665 →9 times
γεννήσειwill bear
genneseiG1080 →97 times
υἱόνa son
huionG5207 →377 times
σοι,to you,
soiG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
καλέσειςyou will call
kaleseisG2564 →147 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὄνομαname
onomaG3686 →227 times
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
Ἰωάννην.John.
ioannenG2491 →134 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 25:21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 33:13
And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition; so He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.
- Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.
- Isaiah 58:9
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and…
- Romans 9:10–12
Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac.
- 2 Chronicles 33:13
Through
Psalms 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
it leads to
- Psalms 68:6
God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
- 1 Samuel 2:5
The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.
- Genesis 21:5–7
Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
- Genesis 30:22–23
Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb,
- Psalms 68:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies24
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About Luke
This page draws on 22 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Athanasius of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Athanasius of Alexandria, LIFE OF ST. ANTHONY 37; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 2.19; Bonaventure, Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 1; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER EIGHT; John Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Origen of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.