But while he thought on these things
While he was revolving them in his mind, considering what was
most fit and proper to be done, whether to dismiss her publicly
or privately; while he was consulting within himself the glory of
God, the peace of his own conscience, and the credit of Mary,
behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream;
probably the same Angel which appeared to Zacharias, and brought
him tidings that his wife should have a son, and who also
appeared to Mary, and acquainted her that she should conceive,
and bring forth the Messiah, Whose name was Gabriel, ( Luke 1:11 Luke 1:19 Luke 1:36 ) . If we will
believe the Jews, this Angel must be Gabriel, since he is the
Angel who they say F4 (amlx le anmmd) "is appointed over dreams"; for he
appeared to
Joseph in a dream,
which is one of the ways and methods in which the Lord, or an
Angel of his, has appeared to the saints formerly, and has
answered them, see ( Genesis
31:11 ) ( 1 Kings 3:5 ) (
1 Samuel
28:6 1 Samuel
28:15 ) and is reckoned by the Jews F5 one of
the degrees or kinds of prophecy: and so the Angel here not only
encourages Joseph to take to him his wife,
saying Joseph, thou son of David;
which is said partly to attest his being of the house and lineage
of David, and partly to raise his expectations and confirm his
faith, that his wife should bring forth the promised son of
David; and chiefly to engage his attention to what he was about
to say,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife;
do not be afraid either that thou shalt offend the Lord, or bring
any reproach or scandal upon thyself as if thou didst connive at
an adulteress; but as she is thine espoused wife, solemnly
betrothed to thee, take her home to thyself, live with her as thy
wife, and openly avow her as such. To which he is encouraged by
the following reason or argument,
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Ghost;
she has not been guilty of any criminal conversation with men;
this conception of her's is of the Holy Ghost, and entirely owing
to his coming upon her, and overshadowing her in a wonderful and
miraculous manner. I say, the Angel not only encourages Joseph
after this manner, but delivers something to him by way of
prophecy, in the following verse.