Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.

  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

[This name means "hero, or mighty one, of God." Gabriel announced to Daniel the time of Christ's birth and death, and the overthrow and final restoration of the Jewish nation ( Daniel 1:1 .). He also announced the birth of Jesus to Mary (verse 26). The Bible gives the name of but one other angel; viz.: Michael, meaning "Who is like God?" Since Gabriel was the messenger who announced God's merciful and gracious purposes, and Michael the one who executed his decrees and punishments, the Jews had a beautiful saying that "Gabriel flew with two wings, and Michael with only one." The very ancient book of Enoch ( Jude 1:14 ) gives us the name of two other archangels; viz.: Uriel, meaning "God is light"; and Raphael, meaning "healer of God"], that stand in the presence of God [Seven angels are spoken of as standing in the presence of God ( Revelation 8:2 ) and may probably be called angels of the presence ( Isaiah 63:9 ). But to see the face of God is no doubt accorded to all angels ( Matthew 18:10 ). One who stands in the presence of God should be believed by men without approving signs]; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. [Our word "gospel" means good tidings.]

  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

[The Jews considered slow service as irreverent and displeasing to God. The punishment attached to displeasing service made them fearful-- Leviticus 16:13 ] in the temple.

  22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them

[Could not dismiss them with the usual blessing ( Numbers 6:23-26 ). Disbelief is always powerless to bless]: and they perceived [probably by his excited manner] that he had seen a vision [the most vivid and objective of all spiritual phenomena-- Luke 24:23 ; Acts 26:19 ; 2 Corinthians 12:1 ; Daniel 9:23 ] in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.

  23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration

[They are said to have lasted from the evening of one Sabbath (Friday at sundown) to the morning of the next. Though doubtless chagrined at the punishment which had come upon him, the old priest remained at his post, and dwelt in the temple until his week was finished] were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. [Some guess that he lived at Hebron, others at Jutta, five miles south of Hebron, others at Ain Karim, four miles west of Jerusalem, but no one knows.]

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

  22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them

  23 And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration

  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

[graciously and mercifully] hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach [the reproach of being childless-- Genesis 30:23 ] among men.

  25 Thus