Luke 1:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

NIV: where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

NASB: and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

CSB: where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

NLT: where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth.

KJV: And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

NKJV: and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

Zechariah and Elizabeth are an aging priest and his wife, who struggled with an inability to have children (Luke 1:5–7). In an angelic encounter, Zechariah learned that they would finally have a child (Luke 1:13), and the boy would become a powerful herald of the Messiah (Luke 1:13–17). For several months, Elizabeth has been in joyful seclusion (Luke 1:24–25).

Her relative, Mary, has also been given amazing news (Luke 1:26–33). Though a virgin, she is bearing the very Son of God. Mary's Child is the Messiah whom Elizabeth's son, known as John the Baptist, will proclaim (Luke 3:2–3). At the time Mary comes to visit, Elizabeth is six months pregnant (Luke 1:36). When Mary arrives, the unborn child in Elizabeth's womb will react to the presence of the also-unborn Messiah (Luke 1:41–42). This begins a rejoicing encounter between the two women (Luke 1:43–56).

Luke 1:39–56 contains Mary's visit with her relative, Elizabeth, and her resulting praise of God. Both women are miraculously pregnant. Despite her old age, Elizabeth is several months pregnant with a boy who will one day be known as John the Baptist (Luke 1:13). Mary, a virgin, has recently learned that God has conceived in her the Messiah, to be named Jesus (Luke 1:31). The unborn John reacts when he hears Mary's voice. Mary responds to this with extensive praise of God, calling Him her "Savior." After staying for a while—possibly until the birth of John—Mary returns home.

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.

Accessed 6/30/2024 1:14:44 PM