Luke 1

Luke 1:1

MAny have taken in hand] Many attempted it: he nameth them not: but affirming a full assurance of that he, with the other Evangelists, writeth, he seemeth modestly to deny, that others had the same.

to set forth in order] To set forth by writing.

Luke 1:2

they delivered them unto us] Meaning the Apostles with whom he was conversant.

were eye-witnesses] Of those things which Christ did. Hebrews 2:3. 1 John 1:1.

ministers of the word] Either of the Gospel, or of Christ the eternall Word, John 1:1. 1 John 1:1.

Luke 1:3

It seemed good to me] By a divine inspiration: as Act. 15, 25. 28. 1 Corinthians 7:40.

most excellent Theophilus] This was some honourable and renouned person in the Church in those times, Acts 1:1.

Luke 1:5

THere was in the dayes of Herod the king] Herod the Great sonne of Antipater. Matthew 2:1.

the course of Abia] See 1 Chron. 24. 5. 10. David appointed them to minister by turns.

daughters of Aaron] That is, descended from Aaron.

Luke 1:6

And they were both righteous before God] That is, of sincere lives; approved of God: not without all sinne, but without blame before men, Phil. 3. 6. 12.

walking in all] That is, living in, and endeavouring to keep all, Psalms 119:1. 6.

Luke 1:9

According to the custome of the priests office] This office appertained to Aaron and his sonnes; Exodus 30:7. 1 Chron. 6. 49.

when he went into the temple of the Lord] Into the Court which was called Holy.

Luke 1:10

And the whole multitude] Exodus 13:7. Lev. 16. 17.

without] In that part of the Temple which was called the peoples Court. See Leviticus 16:17. 1 Kings 7:12.

Luke 1:11

the altar of incense] See Exodus 30:1.

Luke 1:13

and thou shalt call his name John] Which name signifieth the grace of God: intimating that which should be in his person and office. So that his prayer was heard in that the Messiah should now come; and in that Elizabeth, for whom he had often prayed, also should conceive and beare a sonne.

Luke 1:15

great in the sight of the Lord] God shall highly esteeme him.

and shall neither drinke wine nor strong drink] Meaning that he should be consecrated to God, as a Nazarite, Numbers 6:3.

and he shall be filled with the holy Ghost] That is, he shall have an abundant measure of grace, for the execution of his charge.

from his mothers wombe] As Jeremiah 1:5. Galatians 1:15.

Luke 1:16

And many, &c.] Malachi 4:6.

he turn to the Lord their God] He shall be the means of their conversion, by his preaching accompanied with the power of the holy Ghost to make it effectuall. See Acts 26:18. 1 Corinthians 3:5-6. James 5:19-20.

Luke 1:17

he shall go] Malachi 4:5. Matthew 11:14.

before] Before Christ the Messiah, the King of Israel, to declare his coming.

spirit and power of Elias] That is, with as great a measure of grace to make his ministery powerfull. See Matthew 11:11. 14.

turn the hearts of the fathers to the children] That is, of the unnaturall, degenerate and wicked; by his ministery they shall become obedient children of their fathers, and the Church of Christ. So as their fathers shall acknowledge them to be their children indeed. For the division which followeth the preaching of the Gospel, that is an accidentall effect, which the corruption of man produceth.

to the wisdome] Or, by. By the example of their holy fathers they shall be wise and beleeve: and so, of one heart and consent with their fathers.

prepared for the Lord] Prepared for Christ, as John proclaimed, Luke 3:4.

Luke 1:19

Gabriel] This name signifieth the power of God: or God my strength. He putteth him in mind that he was the same Angel, who some hundred yeers before was sent to Daniel to declare the time of Christs coming, Daniel 8:16. and Daniel 9:21. that he might assure him of the fulfilling the same now in the fulnesse of time.

that stand in the presence of God] This Hebraisme borrowed from those who wait on Kings, importeth a readinesse to minister, or serve, 1 Kings 10:8. Proverbs 22:29.

Luke 1:20

thou shalt be dumbe] Because thou desirest a sign, this shall be both a punishment of thy incredulitie, and a sign to confirme thy faith.

Luke 1:21

waited for Zacharias] For he was to dismisse them with a blessing. See Numbers 6:23.

Luke 1:23

were accomplished] At Jerusalem he was to officiate one whole weeke. See 2 Kings 11:5. 1 Chron. 9. 25.

Luke 1:24

and hid her self five moneths] She kept her chamber, or otherwise concealed her miraculous conception.

Luke 1:25

to take away my reproch among men] For barrennesse was counted a dishonour to the women, Genesis 30:23.

Luke 1:26

the sixth moneth] Reckoning from Elizabeths conception.

Luke 1:27

espoused] See Matthew 1:18.

of the house of David] Of the stock and linage of David.

Luke 1:28

highly] Or, graciously accepted, or much graced: See vers. 30.

favoured] Honoured with this singular grace, to be the mother of the Messiah.

Luke 1:30

thou hast found favour with God] God hath freely chosen thee to this honour, which thou thoughtest not of.

Luke 1:31

And behold] See Isaiah 7:14.

hi name Jesus] A Saviour of his people, Matthew 1:21.

Luke 1:32

Sonne of the highest] The onely Sonne of God, by nature: God manifested in the flesh, 1 Timothy 3:16.

the throne of his father David] The spirituall and eternall kingdome over his Church, prefigured in Davids temporall kingdome over Israel.

Luke 1:33

And he shall reign, &c.] See Daniel 7:14. Mic. 4. 7.

Luke 1:34

How shall this be] She desireth to be fully resolved of this great mysterie: and it seemeth they were not seen together after betrothing.

Luke 1:35

overshadow thee] The extraordinary power of God shall effect this: it seemeth an allusion to that, 1 Kings 8:12.

holy thing] Christ without all sinne: as God, the eternall Sonne of the Father: as man, conceived of a sanctified masse, or substance without all sinne.

Luke 1:36

who was called barren] Elizabeth who was known or noted to be barren, now is six moneths gone with child.

Luke 1:39

hill-countrey] Which was Kirioth-Arba, or Hebron: assigned to the Priest. See Joshua 21:11. and Joshua 14:15.

Luke 1:41

the babe leaped in her wombe] This extraordinary motion was by the inspiration of the holy Ghost, enabling Elizabeth to know and prophecie the incarnation of Christ, and shewing a secret correspondence between Christ and John rejoycing at his coming.

Luke 1:45

that beleeved] Or, which beleeved that there.

Luke 1:48

shall call me blessed] In respect of this favour bestowed on me.

Luke 1:51

He hath shewed strength] See Isaiah 51:9.

he hath scattered the proud] See Psalms 33:10.

Luke 1:52

He hath put down the mighty] See 1 Samuel 2:6. Job 5:11.

Luke 1:53

He hath filled the hungry] See Psalms 34:10. 1 Samuel 2:5.

Luke 1:54

in remembrance of his mercy] See Jer. 31. 3, 20.

Luke 1:55

As he spake to our fathers] See Genesis 17:9. Psalm. 132. 11.

to his seed for ever] To his posteritie and the faithfull, Galat. 3. 15, 16.

Luke 1:59

the eighth day] See Genesis 17:12.

Luke 1:60

he shall be called John] It is likely that Zacharie had by writing enformed Elizabeth concerning the whole vision, and imposition of this name by th Angel.

Luke 1:63

asked for a writing-table] That is, he made some signes to have pen and inke to write his mind.

Luke 1:64

his mouth was opened immediately] That is, his voyce and use of speech was restored him.

Luke 1:65

sayings] Or, things.

Luke 1:66

And the hand of the Lord was with him] He profited so, that there appeared a singular power and manifest grace of God in him.

Luke 1:67

filled with the holy Ghost] Inspired with the Spirit of prophecie, concerning the mysterie of our salvation by Christ.

Luke 1:68

visited and redeemed his people] He hath shewed by the effect, that he hath care of his Church.

Luke 1:69

an horn of salvation] The Hebrews hereby signified strength and defence against enemies. See Psal. 132. 17, 18. and 89. 17. & 75. 5. 12. 1 Samuel 2:1.

Luke 1:70

As he spake] See Jeremiah 23:6. and Jeremiah 30:10.

Luke 1:73

The ath which] See Genesis 22:16. Hebrews 6:13.

Luke 1:75

In holinesse] See 1 Pet. 1. 15, 16.

before him] Before God to whom no hypocrisie can be acceptable.

Luke 1:76

go before the face] See Malachi 3:1.

Luke 1:77

by the remission] Or, for.

Luke 1:78

tender mercy] Or, bowels of the mercy.

day-spring] Or, sunne-rising, or branch. The Sunne of righteousnesse Christ Jesus. See Numbers 24:17. Isaiah 11:1. Zechariah 3:8. Malachi 4:2.

Luke 1:79

To give light] See Isaiah 9:2.

way of peace] That is, to perfect happinesse.

Luke 1:80

and was in the] See Matthew 3:1.

deserts] The places of Judea which were least inhabited: as are great forests.