Luke 1:57 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

NIV: When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

NASB: Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

CSB: Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son.

NLT: When it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, she gave birth to a son.

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

NKJV: Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

Elizabeth is the wife of Zechariah, a priest, and both are well beyond "normal" childbearing years (Luke 1:5–7). That they would finally have a son was a miraculous announcement, delivered by an angel (Luke 1:11–13). The child would be an important herald of the Messiah (Luke 1:14–17) known as John the Baptist (Luke 3:2–3). This would also be an answer to prayer (Luke 1:24–25). Others would celebrate along with the new parents (Luke 1:58).

Unfortunately, Zechariah's first instinct was to doubt the angel's message (Luke 1:18), so he was temporarily rendered unable to speak (Luke 1:19–20). Details from later in this passage suggest he was unable to hear, as well (Luke 1:62). Now that the child has been born, that time of rebuke will soon be coming to an end. This will not happen until after the child is circumcised and formally named, eight days after he is born (Leviticus 12:3; Luke 1:59).

Luke 1:57–80 describes the first of two births predicted by the angel Gabriel in this chapter (Luke 1:13, 31). Despite their old age, Elizabeth and Zechariah have had a son, who now needs to be named. Zechariah has been stricken mute for months, after doubting the angel's message. Elizabeth surprises her family by naming the child "John." When asked, Zechariah writes down the same name and is immediately able to speak again. Amid the awestruck reaction of family and neighbors, the legendary reputation of John the Baptist has begun. Zechariah then prophesies about the powerful ministry of his son.

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 11/21/2024 1:11:06 PM