Luke 1:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

NIV: In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

NASB: Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth,

CSB: In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

NLT: In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,

KJV: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

NKJV: Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

The prior passage explained how Elizabeth came to learn she would bear a son: the man later known as John the Baptist (Luke 1:24–25). For five months, she has remained in seclusion. This was likely because of public interest over her husband's angelic vision (Luke 1:11–13). This passage begins after that: six months into Elizabeth's pregnancy.

The same angel who spoke to Zechariah in the temple (Luke 1:19) will now visit another woman. Unlike Elizabeth, Mary is a virgin, unmarried but betrothed (Luke 1:27). This arrangement was as binding as marriage but did not include living together or consummation. This announcement will be even more incredible than what was told to Elizabeth and Zechariah. Mary will conceive, but through the Holy Spirit, rather than intercourse. The Child she bears will be the Son of God (Luke 1:31–32).

Mary is from the Galilee region near the Sea of Galilee, north of Jerusalem. Nazareth was a small town of less than 2,000 residents. The obscurity of this place will come up later, as the gospels record skeptics' criticism of Jesus Christ (John 1:46; 7:41).

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.