Luke 1:57-80 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The Birth of John. The Benedictas. In due course Elisabeth bore her son and received the congratulations of her friends. When the babe has been circumcised and named, his mother rejects the proposal to call him Zacharias and insists on John. The deaf and dumb father confirms his wife's wish, and his power of speech is restored. The whole incident made a great impression in the district, and people recognised that some great future was before the lad, for as he grew up (the last clause of Luke 1:66 is anti cipatory) he was seen to be Divinely guided and protected. Meanwhile Zacharias is inspired and utters a song-prophecy. Luke 1:68-75, in thoroughly Jewish tone, predicts the deliverance of Israel from the oppressor by a scion of the house of David, and the restoration of the theocracy. In Luke 1:76 ff. Zacharias passes to the destiny of his son, and draws on Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 (perhaps also on Mark 1:4). In view of the awkward connexion between Luke 1:78 and Luke 1:77 some have thought Luke 1:76 f. an interpolation. Luke 1:76 b recalls Luke 1:17 a.

Luke 1:78. dayspring from on high: the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, the dawn of the Messianic age. dayspring: Gr. anatolè, the word used in Matthew 2:1 f., and translated east; Mt. gives the Star a warlike, Lk. a peaceful, significance (Exp., Dec. Luke 19:16, pp. 414f.).

Luke 1:80. During his youth and early manhood John spends much time in desert places

Amid dull hearts a prophet never grew,

The nurse of full-grown hearts is solitude.

Cf. Judges 13:24 f., 1 Samuel 2:26; Luke 2:40-52. Note the contrasts.

Related Commentaries of Luke 1:57

Luke 1:57-80

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58 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 child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62 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. And they marvelled all.

64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayingsb were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66 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, saying,

68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 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 go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people byc the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tenderd mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.