Luke 1:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.

NIV: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

NASB: But she was very perplexed at this statement, and was pondering what kind of greeting this was.

CSB: But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

NLT: Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

KJV: And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

NKJV: But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

Appearances from angels usually evoke instinctive fear or unease in those they visit (Luke 1:13; 2:10; Matthew 28:4; Acts 10:3–4; Numbers 22:31; Judges 6:22–23). This is partly due to their powerful, spiritual nature; Scripture does not include western art's serene, infantile versions of angelic messengers. Anxious reactions are also based on reputation: angels are not always sent in peace (2 Kings 19:35; 2 Samuel 24:16). Assurances not to be afraid are common, and Gabriel (Luke 1:26) will make just such a remark to Mary in the next verse (Luke 1:30).

Gabriel's first statement to Mary was a greeting indicating that she had been esteemed by God (Luke 1:28). Despite translation errors that suggest otherwise, Mary was not "full of grace," or a "source of grace," but one who was given special blessing. Mary's response here further goes to support this truth. Her reaction is to wonder—quite naturally—what exactly it means that she's been "favored," and that God is with her. God's calling can involve drastic steps (Genesis 12:1; Judges 6:11–12; Luke 5:27–28). In this moment, she is probably apprehensive about what she will hear next.

Luke 1:26–38 relates how a virgin learned she would miraculously bear the Son of God. The angel Gabriel comes to Mary, who is engaged to a man named Joseph. Gabriel tells Mary that she will bear a son, to be named Jesus. He will be the Promised One long awaited by the people of Israel. Since Mary has never been intimate with a man, God will miraculously conceive the child. Gabriel is the same angel who predicted the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:13), and he informs Mary about this happy occurrence for her relative, Elizabeth. Mary responds in submissive faith. A parallel account is found in Matthew 1:18–25.

The angel Gabriel predicts two miraculous births. The first is a son born to Zechariah and Elizabeth: an older, childless priest and his wife. Because Zechariah initially doubts this message, he is temporarily made unable to speak. Their child will be known as John the Baptist, a powerful herald of the Messiah. The Promised One whom John will proclaim is the second birth predicted by Gabriel. He tells an engaged virgin, Mary, that God will miraculously conceive His Son in her. The two women meet and rejoice over their blessings. John's arrival sets the stage for Luke's familiar account of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Luke was a travelling companion of the apostle Paul (Acts 16:10); his book of Acts is a direct "sequel" to the gospel of Luke (Acts 1:1–3). Those two books make up more than a quarter of the New Testament. Luke begins by explaining how his orderly approach is meant to inspire confidence in Christian faith. His work is based on eyewitness interviews and other evidence. The first chapter details the miraculous conceptions of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Chapter 2 continues with Jesus' birth.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.