Luke 1:63 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.

NIV: He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, 'His name is John.'

NASB: And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, 'His name is John.' And they were all amazed.

CSB: He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

NLT: He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, 'His name is John.'

KJV: And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

NKJV: And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.

Zechariah is the father of Elizabeth's newborn boy (Luke 1:57), an event which was predicted by an angelic messenger (Luke 1:13). Zechariah was serving in the temple when the angel appeared to him (Luke 1:8–11). His first response to the prophecy was doubt (Luke 1:18), so he was temporarily rendered unable to speak (Luke 1:19–20).

Being unable to speak—and possibly unable to hear (Luke 1:62)—does not mean Zechariah cannot communicate, at all. Hand signs and gestures can communicate some things. He's also capable of writing. The tablet mentioned here was a common object in that era. These were wooden or stone boards covered in a thin layer of wax. These were the ancient precursor to modern objects like dry-erase boards or chalkboards.

The reason Zechariah needs to write is because friends and family doubt Elizabeth's choice of a name for their son (Luke 1:59–61). "John" is the name the angel commanded, and "John" is the name Elizabeth chose. Most likely, she had been told about the angel's message by Zechariah. To settle the issue, those involved have asked Zechariah, and he produces exactly the name mentioned by Elizabeth.

This surprises those who see it, but their surprise will soon be multiplied. Confirming the name "John" completes the angel's prophecy about the birth, which also concludes Zechariah's term of silence. He will immediately begin to praise God and prophesy, greatly affecting those nearby (Luke 1:64–66).

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.