Now all this was done
These are not the words of the Angel, but of the Evangelist;
observing that Mary's being with child of the Holy Ghost, and her
conception in such an extraordinary manner, whilst a pure virgin,
before she and Joseph came together, who though espoused to him,
was untouched by him, were all brought about in this way, and
with such circumstances,
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by
the
Prophet;
that is, the Prophet Isaiah, and so some copies read. The passage
referred to is in ( 7:14 ) what is there
spoken was by divine inspiration; it was spoken of the Lord by
the Prophet; the Spirit of the Lord spake by him. Prophets and
holy men formerly, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost; so
that what they said is to be looked upon as the word of God. Now
between the prophecy of Isaiah referred to, and the fact here
recorded by the Evangelist, is an entire agreement: the prophecy
shows the will, counsel, and determination of God about this
matter; the accomplishment of it, the faithfulness and veracity
of God in his word; the prediction declares that the thing would
be, and the thing itself was done, that what was spoken might be
fulfilled; not merely by way of accommodation, or in a typical
and mystical, but in a strict, proper and literal sense.