Luke 1:1-12 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

the Beginning of the Good News

Luke 1:1-12

The opening verses are very explicit. They are answer enough to those who question the story of our Lord's supernatural birth and early years. Luke did not catch up the first legend that floated past him. He made searching inquiry. Doctor Weymouth renders the words in Luke 1:3, “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first,” as, “After careful examination of the facts from the commencement.”

That our Lord should come into our race under special and supernatural conditions was as it should have been; but the historicity of this story largely rests on the careful investigations of “the beloved physician,” who was authenticated by Paul.

The priests were divided into 24 courses, and shared the Temple services for a week each, the work of each priest being decided by lot, 1 Chronicles 24:1-31. Sweeter than the incense which he sprinkled on the coals, was Zacharias' own prayer, commemorated in the name given to his son, “God's gracious gift,” Exodus 30:7-8; Revelation 8:3, etc.

Related Commentaries of Luke 1:1

Luke 1:1-12

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8 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 when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.