New book today, we start with Luke 1:1 and it reads.
Luke 1:1-41
Luke1:1] Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
[2] Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
Meaning that he was a witness to these things. Luke was also scribe for Paul for most of his writings.
Luke1:3] It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
Theophilus should have been translated instead of transliterated. It should read “beloved of God.”
Luke1:4] That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
[5] There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
They were both Levites, more over they were both of the house of Aaron. A priest can only marry a daughter of Aaron. Now this course of Abia is a date. Abia has two courses during the year, the first is December 6th. thru the 12th. this being the second which is June 13th. thru the 19th. we know this by John being born at the Passover which we will be getting to later.
Luke1:6] And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
[7] And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
[8] And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
[9] According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
[10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
These people thought that if you prayed outside the temple when the smoke of the incense rose it would take your prayers with it. Simply, a tradition of men.
Luke1:11] And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
[12] And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
[13] But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Zacharias was praying for a child.
Luke1:14] And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
[15] For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
He would be under the vow of a Nazarene and, also filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, this would happen when Mary would enter into their home.
Luke1:16] And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
[17] And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Important to know He came in the spirit of Elijah, not that he was Elijah. And he would turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, plural. Both to God and to Satan. For this we will go to Malichi 4:5-6, and it reads.
Mal.4:5] Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
[6] And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Now we know that Elijah is one of the two witnesses, but here John is in the spirit of Elijah. This being the first advent. Turning the hearts to their fathers (plural). We can look around and see how a person’s countenance can change when you bring up Jesus. They will either love you or hate you, normally one or the other. Back to Luke and verse 18 reads.
Luke1:18] And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
This is doubt, this will not make Gabriel happy.
Luke1:19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
[20] And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
[21] And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
[22] And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
When he came out, he could only make hand signs, and gestures.
Luke1:23] And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
This being June 19, the next day would be a sabbath. One could only travel ¾ of a mile on the sabbath. So, then he would be leaving most likely on the 21st. of June, and he had 60 miles to go before he would be home. I would guess he was home on the 24th. of June. This matters as we go through this study. Because we will find that Jesus would be conceived on the 25th. of December. Back to verse 24 and it reads.
Luke1:24] And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
Nov.24.
Luke1:25] Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
[26] And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
This is 6 months later, now we are at Dec.25.
Luke1:27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
[28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
[29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
[30] And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
[31] And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
[32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
[33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Let’s go to Isa.7:14 and it reads.
Isa.7:14] Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel means “God with us”. Now Mary will ask how, she is not doubting Gabriel. But in those days if one that is betrothed (engaged) then she is in danger of being stoned under Hebrew law.
Luke1:34] Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
[35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
[36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
One was blessed in her old age, while the other had never known a man. Notice also Elisabeth is her cousin. Their mothers were sisters.
Luke1:37] For with God nothing shall be impossible.
[38] And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and impregnated. 6 Months after Elisabeth.
Luke1:39] And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
[40] And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
[41] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
This is when the Holy Spirit enter into John also. Mary was with child, and the Spirit of that child was in Him. Proving that Life begins at conception. Don’t overlook this, God places the soul in the womb at conception. Let us go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and I ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
If you have any questions or comments contact me.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible