Luke 1:76 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

NIV: And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

NASB: And you, child, also will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;

CSB: And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

NLT: 'And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.

KJV: And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

NKJV: “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

Zechariah is a priest (Luke 1:5) whose wife, Elizabeth, has just given birth to their son (Luke 1:57). This child was an unexpected miracle and an answer to prayer (Luke 1:11–17). Zechariah is celebrating these events (Luke 1:67–68), as well as the news that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will soon be born (Luke 1:39–45).

The child in question will one day be known as John the Baptist (Luke 3:2–3). He will fulfill a role established in Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah predicted there would be a "voice" calling out to prepare people for the arrival of God (Isaiah 40:3). The last prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi, also noted that someone would come to "prepare" the world for the arrival of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1; 4:6). This is the part which John, Zechariah's son, will play.

The "Most High" to be proclaimed is Jesus (Luke 1:31–33; Genesis 14:18–20; Hebrews 1:1–3). Jesus' immediate purpose will be to establish the means of salvation from sin (Luke 1:77; John 3:16–17). John's ministry of repentance and baptism (Matthew 3:1–5) will foreshadow the work of Christ (John 1:19–23).

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.