Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.

      ^c 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa [a Jewish proselyte, an Idumæan or Edomite by birth, founder of the Herodian family, king of Judæa from B. C. 40 to A. D. 4, made such by the Roman Senate on the recommendation of Mark Antony and Octavius Cæsar], a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course [David divided the priests into twenty-four bodies or courses, each course serving in rotation one week in the temple ( 1 Chronicles 24:3-19 ). Of these courses that of Abijah was the eighth] of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron [The Baptist was of the priestly race by both parents, a family distinction much esteemed among the Jews. He who was thus doubly a priest proclaimed Him who changed the priesthood], and her name was Elisabeth. [She was named after her ancestress Elisheba, the wife of Aaron.]

  6 And they were both righteous before God [that is, truly righteous, or righteous in God's judgment, and not in mere appearance-- Genesis 7:1 ], walking in all the commandments and ordinances [Strictly construed, commandments would refer to moral, and ordinances to ceremonial laws. The two words include all the positive and negative precepts] of the Lord blameless.

  7 And they had no child

that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course [that is, when it came the turn of his course to minister in the temple],

  9 according to the custom [there were many duties in the temple service, and the priests in each course daily drew lots for these duties] of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple [not that group of buildings, courts, and enclosures which was all called the temple; but the real sanctuary itself, the small but holy building which took the place of the tabernacle of the wilderness] of the Lord and burn incense. [Made of a mixture of sweet spices. The temple incense was made of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, in equal parts, beaten very small-- Exodus 30:7 Exodus 30:8 Exodus 30:34-38 .]

  10 The whole multitude [the presence of the multitude indicates that it was a sabbath or a feast day] of the people were praying [Incense is a symbol of prayer ( Psalms 141:1 Psalms 141:2 ; Revelation 8:3 ). Each of the multitude prayed in silence] without [outside the sanctuary, in the temple courts, particularly the court of the women] at the time of incense. [Incense was offered evening and morning ( Exodus 30:1-8 ). Probably at 9 A. M. and at 3 P. M. Compare Acts 3:1 . The text favors the idea that Zacharias' vision came in the morning.]

  11 And there appeared unto him [one of God's invisible messengers who came visibly-- 2 Kings 6:17 ; Psalms 34:7 ] an angel of the Lord [Luke frequently tells of the ministration of angels ( Luke 1:26 ; Luke 2:9 Luke 2:13 Luke 2:21 ; 12:8 ; 15:10 ; 16:22 ; 22:43 ; Luke 24:4 Luke 24:23 ). They are also often mentioned in the Book of Acts. There had been no appearance of an angel for about four hundred years] standing on the right side [the place of honor and dignity-- Acts 7:56 ] of the altar of incense. [The altar on which Zacharias was burning incense. It stood in the Holy Place in front of the veil which hung between the holy and the most holy places. It was a small table twenty-two inches in breadth and length and forty-four inches in height. It was made of acacia wood, and overlaid with gold-- Exodus 37:25 .]

  12 And Zacharias was troubled [as men always are at the sight of heavenly beings -- Genesis 3:9 Genesis 3:10 ; Daniel 10:7-12 ; Revelation 1:17 Revelation 1:18 ] when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

  13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not

  14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness [thou shalt feel as Abraham did when he named his new-born son Isaac; that is, "Laughter"]; and many [but not all] shall rejoice at his birth.

  15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord

  16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. [These words were quoted from Malachi 4:6 , and resumed the thread of prophecy which had been broken nearly four centuries before. Roman rule had brought in the vices and profligacy of Italy and Greece, and the nation needed to turn back to its former godly life.]

  17 And he shall go before his face [the face of Messiah, who is also the Lord God-- Malachi 3:1 ] in the spirit and power of Elijah [And thus in fulfillment of the prophecy that Elijah should come again ( Malachi 4:6 ; Matthew 17:9-13 ). The Jews still expect Elijah as the forerunner of Messiah. John showed the spirit of Elijah in his ascetic dress and life ( 2 Kings 1:8 ; Matthew 3:4 ) and in his message of repentance-- 1 Kings 18:21-40 ], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. ["These are the last words of the Old Testament, there used by a prophet; here expounded by an angel; there concluding the law; here beginning the gospel." The phrase may mean: 1. John will restore unity to the families of Israel, now divided into political factions, as Herodians or friends of Rome, and zealots or patriots; and into religious factions, as Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, etc.; or more likely it may mean, 2. That John would restore the broken relationship between the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their degenerate descendants-- Isaiah 29:22 Isaiah 29:23 ; 63:16 ; John 8:37-40 ], and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. [As in the East the "friend," or go-between, prepares the bride to understand and appreciate her bridegroom-- John 3:28 John 3:29 .]

  18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? [In asking for a sign Zacharias showed his unbelief ( Matthew 12:38 Matthew 12:39 ). His question in the original is in four words. Four faithless words cost him forty weeks of silence.] for I am an old man [So said Abraham ( Genesis 17:17 ). The law which retired Levites from service at the age of fifty years ( Numbers 8:25 Numbers 8:26 ) did not apply to priests. They served to extreme old age], and my wife well stricken in years.

  19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel

  20 And, behold, thou shalt be silent [it was a sign; and also a punishment for having sought a sign] and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

  21 And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried

  24 And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself [probably through mingled feelings of modesty, humility, devotion, and joy] five months [at the end of which time her seclusion was interrupted by the visit of Mary], saying,

  25 Thus