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Luke 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,

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, 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 in order, most excellent Theophilus,

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

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.

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

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now 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,

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense 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 altar of incense.

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

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.

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and 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 with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

And many of the 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 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 stricken 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 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.

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so 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 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.

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

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.

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the 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 salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in 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 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.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a 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 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 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.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted 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 Holy Ghost:

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is 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 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.

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty 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 holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she 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.

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.

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

And 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.

And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his 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 throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

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.

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

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

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

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

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

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

The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

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

In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

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;

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

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

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

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

What does Luke 1:17 mean?

Explanation

The verse in question, Luke 1:17, refers to the role of John the Baptist as prophesied by the angel Gabriel to Zechariah, John's father.

The phrase "in the spirit and power of Elias" draws a parallel between John the Baptist and the Old Testament prophet Elijah (Elias is the Greek form of Elijah).

It is suggesting that John will be endowed with the same spirit and power that characterized Elijah's ministry.

The second part of the verse, "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just," calls back to the prophecy in Malachi 4:6 and indicates that John's role will be one of reconciliation and bringing people back to righteousness in preparation for the coming of the Lord.

The phrase "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" further clarifies John's mission. He will assist in preparing the people of Israel to receive and recognize their Messiah, Jesus, and create a community receptive to His teachings.

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Historical Context

Luke 1:17 is written within the context of First Century Judea, under Roman occupation. The Jewish people were anticipating a Messiah to deliver them, and there was a strong tradition of prophets who would precede and announce the coming of this figure.

Elijah, one of the great prophets of the Old Testament, was expected to return before the great and terrible day of the Lord according to the prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6.

During this time, various religious and political factions had different expectations of what the Messiah would be like and what his coming would entail.

By comparing John the Baptist to Elijah, Luke's audience, which was familiar with these prophecies and expectations, would understand that John was fulfilling this messianic precursor role.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse serves as a fulfillment of prophecy and an affirmation of Jesus as the promised Messiah. John's role is to prepare the way for Jesus, underlining the Christian belief in the connection between the Old and New Testaments.

The Catholic and Orthodox traditions see this not only as a prophecy fulfilled but also as an indication of the importance of sacraments such as baptism in preparing individuals to receive God.

Many Protestant interpretations focus on the personal conversion and spiritual preparation that is needed before one can fully accept Jesus as Lord.

Practical Applications

This verse has practical applications that can extend to the theme of reconciliation and preparation.

It serves as a call for individuals to mend relationships ("turn the hearts of the fathers to the children") and to seek wisdom and righteousness ("the disobedient to the wisdom of the just").

On a spiritual level, it is an encouragement for believers to ready their hearts and lives for a deeper relationship with God and to be an active part in the community of faith.

Cross-References

Malachi 4:5-6 (KJV): "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
Matthew 3:3 (KJV): "For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."

Language Study

"Spirit" (Greek: πνεῦμα, pneuma): Often used to refer to a person's vital spirit or a supernatural being like an angel or demon; can also mean breath or wind.
"Power" (Greek: δύναμις, dynamis): Refers to strength, ability, or miraculous power.
"Elias" (Greek: Ἠλίας, Ēlias): The Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah, meaning "Yahweh is God."
"Wisdom" (Greek: σοφία, sophia): Conveys a practical knowledge or prudence, especially in spiritual matters.
"Just" (Greek: δίκαιος, dikaios): Refers to one who is right or righteous.

The use of these words points to the powerful and Spirit-filled ministry that John the Baptist would have, in the same vein as Elijah.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The anticipation of a forerunner or herald figure can be found in various religious and cultural myths outside of Christianity.

For instance, in Egyptian mythology, there are figures like Anubis who precede and prepare for the coming of greater deities.

In Greco-Roman religion, heralds like Hermes or messengers such as Iris perform roles that involve communication of divine messages and preparation for divine events.

Scientific Perspectives

There is limited intersection between this verse and modern scientific understandings, as the concepts in Luke 1:17 are theological and spiritual in nature. Science does not typically address prophecies or spiritual roles.

However, the psychological importance of social and familial reconciliation and the beneficial effects of communal and personal preparation are acknowledged in various fields of social science.

Commentaries

According to Matthew Henry's commentary, John the Baptist's coming in "the spirit and power of Elias" signifies that he would be as bold, zealous, and unwavering as Elijah was.

Henry also emphasizes the turning of hearts as integral to John's mission, essential for the reformation that's needed in society.

In the MacArthur Study Bible, John the Baptist's role is described as critical in preparing the hearts of the people, calling them to repentance, and readying them for the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Additionally, the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges highlights the intentional echo of the Malachi prophecy, explaining that John's role is to soften and harmonize relations between individuals, leading them to recognize the truth about Jesus and unite around him.

Luke 1

Luke 1

What does Luke 1:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 1:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?