Luke 1:71 - Printer Friendly

ESV: that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

NIV: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us--

NASB: Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us;

CSB: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us.

NLT: Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us.

KJV: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

NKJV: That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us,

This is a citation of Psalm 106:10, which celebrated God's intervention for Israel at the Red Sea (Psalm 106:7–9; Exodus 14:28–30). The Exodus from Egypt was both a literal rescue from slavery and a powerful symbol of spiritual salvation (Galatians 4:3–5). That rescue proved God's promises to men like Abraham and Isaac were true (Exodus 6:8). Other guarantees came in the form of prophecies (Luke 1:70) about a Messiah (Isaiah 9:6–7) and a herald who would announce Messiah's ministry (Malachi 3:1; 4:6; Isaiah 40:3).

All these ideas are celebrated by Zechariah, a priest (Luke 1:5, 67). His wife has given birth (Luke 1:57) to the man later known as John the Baptist (Luke 1:13; 3:2–3). John's role will be to announce the Savior, Jesus Christ, whose impending birth was recently announced by an angel (Luke 1:31–33). Jesus' first coming to earth will establish a means for mankind to be saved from sin (John 3:16–17), while His second coming will establish an eternal end to all sin and evil (Revelation 19:11–15; 21:1–5).

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 5/12/2024 8:43:40 AM