(The
objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read
layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses
for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each
verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)
FRAMEWORKS:
Luke, chapter 1
v.1-4
Introduction
v.5-25
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
v.26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
v.39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth
v.46-56
Mary's Song
v.57-66
The Birth of John the Baptist
v.67-80
Zechariah's Song
v.1-4
Introduction
v.1,2
(there have
already been a number of accounts written that originated with
those who were with Christ) Many
have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have
been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by
those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the
word.
v.3,4
(carefully investigating
these things I too decided to write a further orderly account
to reassure you of what you have been taught) With
this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything
from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account
for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty
of the things you have been taught.
v.5-25
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
v.5
(it all started
with a priest called Zechariah) In
the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah,
who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth
was also a descendant of Aaron.
v.6
(he and his
wife Elizabeth were both good and righteous people) Both
of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the
Lord's commands and decrees blamelessly.
v.7
(sadly they
were childless but were both now very old [past child-bearing
age]) But they were childless
because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both
very old.
v.8,9
(on one occasion
when he was on duty at the temple it became his turn to go in
do the burning of incense) Once
when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest
before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the
priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
v.10
(everyone else
remained outside praying) And
when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled
worshipers were praying outside.
v.11
(suddenly an
angel turned up in there) Then
an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side
of the altar of incense.
v.12
(he was scared
stiff) When Zechariah saw him,
he was startled and was gripped with fear.
v.13
(the angel sought
to reassure him and told him Elizabeth would have a son to be
called John) But the angel said
to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.
Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him
John.
v.14,15
(this John will
be very special) He will be
a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his
birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never
to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with
the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
v.16
(he will bring
about a return of the people of Israel to the Lord) He
will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their
God.
v.17
(ministering
in the same spirit as Elijah restoring family unity in the land)
And he will go on before the Lord,
in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents
to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to
make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
v.18 (Zechariah
doubted and questioned the possibility of this) Zechariah
asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and
my wife is well along in years.”
v.19
(Look, said
the angel, I come from God's very presence with this message)
The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.
I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak
to you and to tell you this good news.
v.20
(OK, you doubt,
so you can be dumb until the child comes) And
now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this
happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come
true at their appointed time.”
v.21
(outside they
wondered why he was delayed inside) Meanwhile,
the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed
so long in the temple.
v.22
(when he came
out he had to sign what had happened) When
he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had
seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them
but remained unable to speak.
v.23
(at the end
of his shift he returned home) When
his time of service was completed, he returned home.
v.24
(and somehow
(!!!) Elizabeth conceived) After
this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained
in seclusion.
v.25
(she rejoiced
at his gift of God) “The Lord
has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his
favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
v.26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
v.26,27
(about six months
later the same angel went to Mary, who was engaged (we might say)
to Joseph) In the sixth month
of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth,
a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man
named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
v.28
(the angel greets
her warmly) The angel went to
her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord
is with you.”
v.29
(she is uncertain
about this) Mary was greatly
troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this
might be.
v.30
(so he reassures
her) But the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God.
v.31 (he
tells he she will have a son to be called Jesus) You
will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him
Jesus.
v.32,33
(he too will
be very special) He will be
great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign
over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
v.34
(Mary's only
question is how to bring this about because (being righteous)
she was not married) “How will
this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
v.35 (the
angel explains the Holy Spirit will bring it about, the birth
of the Son of God) The angel
answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of
the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born
will be called the Son of God.
v.36,37
(he explains
about Elizabeth to encourage her) Even
Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age,
and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth
month. For no word from God will ever fail.”
v.38 (Mary
humbly consents) “I am the Lord's
servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then
the angel left her.
v.39-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth
v.39,40
(Mary goes to
visit Elizabeth) At that time
Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,
where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.
v.41 (at
the sound of Mary's voice Elizabeth is filled with the Spirit
and the baby in her leaped) When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
v.42 (she
senses something of what is happening to Mary) In
a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the child you will bear!
v.43
( … and questions
why she has come) But why am
I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
v.44 (she
tells what just happened) As
soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in
my womb leaped for joy.
v.45
(and declares
the wonder of God's blessing that comes to believers) Blessed
is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises
to her!”
v.46-56
Mary's Song
v.46-49(Mary
pours out what appears as prophecy) And
Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices
in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble
state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me
blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy
is his name.
v.50
(in that God's
blessing has come to her) His
mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
v.51
(for he blesses
the humble and deals with the proud) He
has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered
those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
v.52
(yes, He brings
down might rulers but blesses the humble) He
has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted
up the humble.
v.53
(he reverses
the fortunes of men and women) He
has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich
away empty.
v.54,55
(and now He's
come to bless His people as promised) He
has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised
our ancestors.”
v.56 (she
stays, it would appear, until John is about due) Mary
stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned
home.
v.57-66
The Birth of John the Baptist
v.57 (Elizabeth
has her son) When it was time
for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
v.58 (the
neighbours rejoice with her) Her
neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great
mercy, and they shared her joy.
v.59,60
(at the time
of naming the child, Elizabeth declares him to be John) On
the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were
going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke
up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
v.61
(they question
this) They said to her, “There
is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
v.62
(they ask Zechariah)
Then they made signs to his father,
to find out what he would like to name the child.
v.63
(he confirms
this in writing) He asked for
a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, “His
name is John.”
v.64
(suddenly he
is no longer dumb) Immediately
his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to
speak, praising God.
v.65
(the neighbours
are amazed at all this) All
the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country
of Judea people were talking about all these things.
v.66
(and everyone
wondered who the baby would become) Everyone
who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child
going to be?” For the Lord's hand was with him.
v.67-80
Zechariah's Song
v.67 (Zechariah
prophesies) His father Zechariah
was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
v.68-75 (he
praises God for having brought a channel for salvation into the
Land as prophesied) “Praise
be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to
his people and redeemed them. He
has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house
of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets
of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the
hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our ancestors and
to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father
Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and
to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness
before him all our days.
v.76-79
(this child
will be a prophet, preparing the way of the Lord) 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, to
give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness
of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by
which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine
on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to
guide our feet into the path of peace.”
v.80
(thus John grew
and lived in the desert) And
the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the
wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.