Lucas 1

1 Introducción
Muchas personas han intentado escribir un relato de los hechos que se han cumplido entre nosotros.

2 Se valieron de los informes que circulan entre nosotros dados por testigos oculares, los primeros discípulos.

3 Después de investigar todo con esmero desde el principio, yo también decidí escribir un relato cuidadoso para ti, muy honorable Teófilo,

4 para que puedas estar seguro de la veracidad de todo lo que te han enseñado.

5 Anuncio del nacimiento de Juan el Bautista
Cuando Herodes era rey en Judea, hubo un sacerdote judío llamado Zacarías. Era miembro del grupo sacerdotal de Abías; y su esposa, Elisabet, también pertenecía a la familia sacerdotal de Aarón.

6 Zacarías y Elisabet eran justos a los ojos de Dios y cuidadosos en obedecer todos los mandamientos y las ordenanzas del Señor.

7 No tenían hijos porque Elisabet no podía quedar embarazada y los dos eran ya muy ancianos.

8 Cierto día, Zacarías se encontraba sirviendo a Dios en el templo, porque su grupo de sacerdotes estaba de turno esa semana.

9 Como era costumbre entre los sacerdotes, le tocó por sorteo entrar en el santuario del Señor y quemar el incienso.

10 Mientras el incienso se quemaba, una gran multitud estaba afuera orando.

11 Y mientras Zacarías estaba en el santuario, se le apareció un ángel del Señor, de pie a la derecha del altar del incienso.

12 Cuando Zacarías lo vio, se alarmó y se llenó de temor,

13 pero el ángel le dijo:
—¡No tengas miedo, Zacarías! Dios ha oído tu oración. Tu esposa, Elisabet, te dará un hijo, y lo llamarás Juan.

14 Tendrás gran gozo y alegría, y muchos se alegrarán de su nacimiento,

15 porque él será grande a los ojos del Señor. No deberá beber vino ni ninguna bebida alcohólica y será lleno del Espíritu Santo aun antes de nacer.

16 Y hará que muchos israelitas vuelvan al Señor su Dios.

17 Será un hombre con el espíritu y el poder de Elías; preparará a la gente para la venida del Señor. Inclinará el corazón de los padres
hacia los hijos
y hará que los rebeldes acepten la sabiduría de los justos.

18 Zacarías le dijo al ángel:
—¿Cómo puedo estar seguro de que ocurrirá esto? Ya soy muy anciano, y mi esposa también es de edad avanzada.

19 Entonces el ángel dijo:
—¡Yo soy Gabriel! Estoy en la presencia misma de Dios. ¡Fue él quien me envió a darte esta buena noticia!

20 Pero ahora, como no creíste lo que te dije, te quedarás mudo, sin poder hablar hasta que nazca el niño. Te aseguro que mis palabras se cumplirán a su debido tiempo.

21 Mientras tanto, la gente esperaba a que Zacarías saliera del santuario y se preguntaba por qué tardaba tanto.

22 Cuando por fin salió, no podía hablarles. Entonces, por las señas que hacía y su silencio, se dieron cuenta de que seguramente había tenido una visión en el santuario.

23 Cuando Zacarías terminó su semana de servicio en el templo, regresó a su casa.

24 Poco tiempo después, su esposa, Elisabet, quedó embarazada y permaneció recluida en su casa durante cinco meses.

25 «¡Qué bondadoso es el Señor! —exclamó ella—. Me ha quitado la vergüenza de no tener hijos».

26 Anuncio del nacimiento de Jesús
Cuando Elisabet estaba en su sexto mes de embarazo, Dios envió al ángel Gabriel a Nazaret, una aldea de Galilea,

27 a una virgen llamada María. Ella estaba comprometida para casarse con un hombre llamado José, descendiente del rey David.

28 Gabriel se le apareció y dijo: «¡Saludos, mujer favorecida! ¡El Señor está contigo!»
.

29 Confusa y perturbada, María trató de pensar lo que el ángel quería decir.

30 —No tengas miedo, María —le dijo el ángel—, ¡porque has hallado el favor de Dios!

31 Concebirás y darás a luz un hijo, y le pondrás por nombre Jesús.

32 Él será muy grande y lo llamarán Hijo del Altísimo. El Señor Dios le dará el trono de su antepasado David.

33 Y reinará sobre Israel
para siempre; ¡su reino no tendrá fin!

34 —¿Pero cómo podrá suceder esto? —le preguntó María al ángel—. Soy virgen.

35 El ángel le contestó:
—El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra. Por lo tanto, el bebé que nacerá será santo y será llamado Hijo de Dios.

36 Además, tu parienta Elisabet, ¡quedó embarazada en su vejez! Antes la gente decía que ella era estéril, pero ha concebido un hijo y ya está en su sexto mes de embarazo.

37 Pues nada es imposible para Dios.

38 María respondió:
—Soy la sierva del Señor. Que se cumpla todo lo que has dicho acerca de mí.
Y el ángel la dejó.

39 María visita a Elisabet
Pocos días después, María fue de prisa a la zona montañosa de Judea, al pueblo

40 donde vivía Zacarías. Entró en la casa y saludó a Elisabet.

41 Al escuchar el saludo de María, el bebé de Elisabet saltó en su vientre y Elisabet se llenó del Espíritu Santo.

42 Elisabet dio un grito de alegría y le exclamó a María:
—Dios te ha bendecido más que a todas las mujeres, y tu hijo es bendito.

43 ¿Por qué tengo este honor, que la madre de mi Señor venga a visitarme?

44 Cuando escuché tu saludo, el bebé saltó de alegría en mi vientre.

45 Eres bendita porque creíste que el Señor haría lo que te dijo.

46 El Magníficat: canción de alabanza de María
María respondió:
—Oh, cuánto alaba mi alma al Señor.

47 ¡Cuánto mi espíritu se alegra en Dios mi Salvador!

48 Pues se fijó en su humilde sierva,
y de ahora en adelante todas las generaciones me llamarán bendita.

49 Pues el Todopoderoso es santo
y ha hecho grandes cosas por mí.

50 Él muestra misericordia de generación en generación
a todos los que le temen.

51 ¡Su brazo poderoso ha hecho cosas tremendas!
Dispersó a los orgullosos y a los altaneros.

52 A príncipes derrocó de sus tronos
y exaltó a los humildes.

53 Al hambriento llenó de cosas buenas
y a los ricos despidió con las manos vacías.

54 Ayudó a su siervo Israel
y no se olvidó de ser misericordioso.

55 Pues lo prometió a nuestros antepasados,
a Abraham y a sus descendientes para siempre.

56 Y María se quedó con Elisabet unos tres meses y luego regresó a su casa.

57 Nacimiento de Juan el Bautista
Cuando se cumplió el tiempo para que naciera el bebé, Elisabet dio a luz un hijo varón.

58 Todos sus vecinos y parientes se alegraron al enterarse de que Dios había sido tan misericordioso con ella.

59 Cuando el bebé cumplió ocho días, todos se reunieron para la ceremonia de circuncisión. Querían ponerle por nombre Zacarías como su padre,

60 pero Elisabet dijo:
—¡No! ¡Su nombre es Juan!

61 —¿Cómo? —exclamaron—. No hay nadie en tu familia con ese nombre.

62 Entonces, le preguntaron por gestos al padre cómo quería que se llamara.

63 Zacarías pidió con señas que le dieran una tablilla para escribir y, para sorpresa de todos, escribió: «Su nombre es Juan».

64 Al instante Zacarías pudo hablar de nuevo y comenzó a alabar a Dios.

65 Todo el vecindario se llenó de temor reverente, y la noticia de lo que había sucedido corrió por todas las colinas de Judea.

66 Los que la oían meditaban sobre los acontecimientos y se preguntaban: «¿Qué llegará a ser este niño?». Pues la mano del Señor estaba sobre él de una manera especial.

67 Profecía de Zacarías
Entonces su padre, Zacarías, se llenó del Espíritu Santo y dio la siguiente profecía:

68 «Alaben al Señor, el Dios de Israel,
porque ha visitado y redimido a su pueblo.

69 Nos envió un poderoso Salvador
del linaje real de su siervo David,

70 como lo prometió
mediante sus santos profetas hace mucho tiempo.

71 Ahora seremos rescatados de nuestros enemigos
y de todos los que nos odian.

72 Él ha sido misericordioso con nuestros antepasados
al recordar su pacto sagrado,

73 el pacto que prometió mediante un juramento
a nuestro antepasado Abraham.

74 Hemos sido rescatados de nuestros enemigos
para poder servir a Dios sin temor,

75 en santidad y justicia,
mientras vivamos.

76 »Y tú, mi pequeño hijo,
serás llamado profeta del Altísimo,
porque prepararás el camino para el Señor.

77 Dirás a su pueblo cómo encontrar la salvación
mediante el perdón de sus pecados.

78 Gracias a la tierna misericordia de Dios,
la luz matinal del cielo está a punto de brillar entre nosotros,

79 para dar luz a los que están en oscuridad y en sombra de muerte,
y para guiarnos al camino de la paz».

80 Juan creció y se fortaleció en espíritu. Y vivió en el desierto hasta que comenzó su ministerio público a Israel.

Lucas 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

This evangelist is generally supposed to have been a physician, and a companion of the apostle Paul. The style of his writings, and his acquaintance with the Jewish rites and usages, sufficiently show that he was a Jew, while his knowledge of the Greek language and his name, speak his Gentile origin. He is first mentioned ( acts 16:10 acts 16:11 ) , as with Paul at Troas, whence he attended him to Jerusalem, and was with him in his voyage, and in his imprisonment at Rome. This Gospel appears to be designed to supersede many defective and unauthentic narratives in circulation, and to give a genuine and inspired account of the life, miracles, and doctrines of our Lord, learned from those who heard and witnessed his discourses and miracles.

The Preface. (1-4) Zacharias and Elisabeth. (5-25) Christ's birth announced. (26-38) Interview of Mary and Elisabeth. (39-56) The birth of John the Baptist. (57-66) The song of Zacharias. (67-80)

1-4. Luke will not write of things about which Christians may safely differ from one another, and hesitate within themselves; but the things which are, and ought to be surely believed. The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction. And the great events whereon our hopes depend, have been recorded by those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, and who were perfected in their understanding of them through Divine inspiration.

Verses 5-25 The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray, and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and bring an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who ever lives, making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made, received an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world, may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. Mercies are doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer. Zacharias shall have a son in his old age, who shall be instrumental in the conversion of many souls to God, and preparing them to receive the gospel of Christ. He shall go before Him with courage, zeal, holiness, and a mind dead to earthly interests and pleasures. The disobedient and rebellious would be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous forefathers, or rather, brought to attend to the wisdom of that Just One who was coming among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said; but his unbelief spake. In striking him dumb, God dealt justly with him, because he had objected against God's word. We may admire the patience of God towards us. God dealt kindly with him, for thus he prevented his speaking any more distrustful, unbelieving words. Thus also God confirmed his faith. If by the rebukes we are under for our sin, we are brought to give the more credit to the word of God, we have no reason to complain. Even real believers are apt to dishonour God by unbelief; and their mouths are stopped in silence and confusion, when otherwise they would have been praising God with joy and gratitude. In God's gracious dealings with us we ought to observe his gracious regards to us. He has looked on us with compassion and favour, and therefore has thus dealt with us.

Verses 26-38 We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be born miraculously. The angel's address means only, Hail, thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High, to attain the honour Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found favour with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear, Jesus, a Saviour! We know not his riches and our own poverty, therefore we run not to him; we perceive not that we are lost and perishing, therefore a Saviour is a word of little relish. Were we convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us, and the wrath that hangs over us for it, ready to fall upon us, it would be our continual thought, Is the Saviour mine? And that we might find him so, we should trample on all that hinders our way to him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration, and she asked no sign for the confirming her faith. Without controversy, great was the mystery of ( 1 Timothy. 3:16 ) nature must be produced so, as it was fit that should be which was to be taken into union with the Divine nature. And we must, as Mary here, guide our desires by the word of God. In all conflicts, let us remember that with God nothing is impossible; and as we read and hear his promises, let us turn them into prayers, Behold the willing servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.

Verses 39-56 It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.

Verses 57-66 In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or "Gracious," because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouths must show forth his praise; and better be without speech, than not use it in praising God. It is said, The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy, which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God, and wait the event.

Verses 67-80 Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, ( Romans 3:17 ) . John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LUKE

The writer of this Gospel, Luke, has been, by some, thought, as Origen {a} relates, to be the same with Lucius, mentioned in Ro 16:21, but he seems rather to be, and without doubt is, Luke the beloved physician, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul in great part of his travels in the Gentile world: he came with him to Jerusalem, and from thence accompanied him to Rome, and continued with him when in prison, and was with him to the last; see Ac 16:10,11 \Col 4:14 2Ti 4:11 Phm 1:24\. Jerom {b}, and others, say, he was a physician of Antioch in Syria; where it may be the Apostle Paul met with him, and might be the happy instrument of his conversion; so that he seems to be, by nation, a Syrian, as Jerom {c} calls him. Grotius thinks his name is Roman, and that it is the contraction of Lucilius. It is not an Hebrew name, but might be in common use in Syria; for though the Jews reckon owqwl, "Lukus", among foreign names, yet say {d} a it was a very illustrious one, and well known to them, as it may well be thought to be if Syriac, the language being spoke by them: and many Jews lived in Syria, and particularly in Antioch. Some say that this Gospel was written by the advice, and assistance, and under the direction of the Apostle Paul, as the Gospel according to Mark was by that of Peter; though the following preface does not seem so well to accord with this. Eusebius says {e} that it was the sense of the ancients, that whenever the Apostle Paul makes mention of his Gospel, he intends this according to Luke. The time of the writing of it is not certain; some say it was written in the fifteenth year after the ascension of our Lord; others in the twenty second; and others in the twenty seventh. It is commonly thought to have been written after the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, according to the order in which it stands; but this is rejected by some learned men, who rather think that Luke wrote first of all: and indeed, there are some things in his preface which look as if there had not, as yet, been any authentic account published, at least which was come to the knowledge of this evangelist. The place where he wrote it is also uncertain. Jerom says {f}, he wrote it in the parts of Achaia, perhaps at Corinth: according to the titles prefixed to the Syriac and Persic versions, he wrote it in Alexandria: the former of these runs thus;

``the Gospel of Luke, the Evangelist, which he spake and published in Greek in Alexandria the great.''

And the latter thus;

``the Gospel of Luke, which he wrote in the Greek tongue in Alexandria of Egypt.''

However, it is agreed on all hands, that it is genuine, and of divine inspiration. Eusebius {g} relates, that it was affirmed by some, that this Gospel, together with those of Matthew and Mark, were brought to the Apostle John, who approved of them, and bore witness to the truth in them.

{a} In Rom. xvi. 21. {b} Catalog. Script. Eccles. sect. 17. fol. 91. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 4. {c} Praefat in Luc. {d} T. Bab. Gittin, fol. 11. 2. & Gloss. in ib. {e} Ubi supra. (Hist. Eccl. l. 3. c. 39.) {f} Praefat in Luc. {g} Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 24.