Luke 1:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

NIV: And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.'

NASB: And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.'

CSB: Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

NLT: But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

God sent the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19; Daniel 8:16; 9:21) to deliver wonderful news to an aging priest, Zechariah (Luke 1:13–17). Though he and his wife, Elizabeth, are old and childless, they will have a son (Luke 1:5–7). Zechariah's first response to the message, unfortunately, is to doubt that it will happen (Luke 1:18). Gabriel's reaction is almost indignant, and he makes it clear to Zechariah exactly who he is, and how he comes to bring these messages (Luke 1:19).

The result of Zechariah's lapse of trust is ironic. He has mistrusted the speech of an angel of God, so he will no longer be able to speak. Other verses indicate Zechariah is also rendered deaf (Luke 1:62). He has heard a message from God, via an angel, and doubted it, so he will no longer be able to hear. Both punishments are temporary, lasting only until shortly after the baby is born (Luke 1:63–64). The effect of these rebukes, and their miraculous nature, sends a clear message to others that God is working powerfully in this situation (Luke 1:65–66).

Luke 1:5–25 explains how Elizabeth, the childless wife of a priest, learns that she will give birth to a prophet. This child will eventually be known as John the Baptist. Her husband, Zechariah, learns this from an angel but doubts due to his advanced age. As a result, he is rendered temporarily mute, and likely deaf as well (Luke 1:62). As predicted, he and Elizabeth conceive and await the birth of their son. This occurs several months before Elizabeth's relative, Mary, receives even more amazing news from an angel.

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.