PART I. EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD. TIME: About thirteen and a half years. 1 2 Fi § 1. Preface to Luke's Gospel. LUKE I. 1-4. NORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, ' even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye-wit3 nesses, and ministers of the word; ' it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee 4 in order, most excellent Theophilus,' that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed. § 2. An Angel appears to Zacharias. - JERUSALEM. LUKE I. 5-25. There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters 6 of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord 7 blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren; 8 and they both were well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense 10 when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of "the people were praying without, at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the 12 altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear. 1 fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy 1 LUKE I. prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou 14 shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and 15 many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled 16 with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the 17 children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make 18 ready a people prepared for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well strick19 en in years. And the angel answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to 20 shew thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so 22 long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he 23 beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five 25 months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men. 26 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. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou highly favoured, the 29 Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of 30 salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: 31 for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in 32 thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord 33 God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. 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 35 man? 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 36 the Son of God. 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 37 38 called barren: for with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. a 17. Comp. Mal. 4, 5. 6. 33. Comp. Mic. 4, 7. 39 § 4. Mary visits Elisabeth. - JUTTAH. LUKE I. 39-56. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with haste, 40 into a city of Juda,' and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted 41 Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the 42 Holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art 43 thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is 44 this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?. For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in 45 my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 47 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,' and my spirit hath 48 rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me 49 blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is 50 his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to 51 generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the 52 proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty 53 from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath 55 holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;' as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed, for ever. 54 66 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 67 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she 58 brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the 60 child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 62 And 1 his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. 64 And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his 65 tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad 66 throughout all the hill-country of Judea. And all they that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be ! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, 6 saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeem69 ed his people,' and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, in the house 70 of his servant David: ' as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which ☐ 54, 55. Comp. Is. 41, 8, 9. Gen. 22, 16 sq. LUKE I. 71 have been since the world began: ' that we should be saved from our ene73 mies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy prom73 ised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which 74 he sware to our father Abraham,a ' that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve him without 75 fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shalt 27 go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; ' to give knowledge of 78 salvation unto his people, by the remission of their sins,' through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us, 79 to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. 18 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found 19 with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away 20 privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in 21 her is of the Holy Ghost. And she sha1 bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord 23 by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord 25 had bidden him, and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son: and he called his name JESUS. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from * Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (This taxing was 3 first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of • David,) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished 7 that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling-clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 73. Gen. 22, 16 sq. b22. Is. 7, 14. § 8. An Angel appears to the Shepherds.-NEAR BETHLEHEM. LUKE II. 8-20. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping 9 watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were 10 sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring 11 you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swad13 dling-clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel 14 a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 13 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made 16 known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, 17 and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made 18 known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard, wondered at those things which were told them by the 19 shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her 20 heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. § 9. The circumcision of Jesus, and his presentation in the Temple.—BETHLE HEM, JERUSALEM. 21 LUKE II. 21-38. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he 22 was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jeru23 salem, to present him to the Lord; ' (as it is written in the law of the Lord,b 24 Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord ;)' and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon ; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: 26 and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's 27 Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents 28 brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,' then 29 took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,' Lord, now lettest 30 thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes 31 have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken 34 of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Be 32 33 a 21. Gen. 17, 12. Lev. 12, 3. b 23. Ex. 13, 2. Comp. Num. 8, 16. 17 24. Lev. 12, 6. 8. |