Luke 1:1-80

The Book of Luke is one of four books that sets forth the four-fold earthly-life and death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the Lord Jesus Christ being God's man (human-being) and it details his interaction with other people according to God's will.

Luke 1:1-4:

^1:1Since-indeed many-people took-on-hand to arrange a narrative concerning the matters having been fully-assured² in us, ^.2according as the onlookers from (the) beginning and having become assistants of the word gave-over to us, ^.3also it was considered by me having followed-beside² all-things from-the-top to write accurately successively to you, strongest Theophilus, ^.4in order that you may fully-know the safety concerning whose words you were resounded.

Luke begins by explaining why it is necessary for him to write this book: since it is a true fact emphatically that a lot of people...

• took-on-hand to arrange (set about, undertook to put fully in order in an upward manner, to order on top, up above, at a high level)
• a narrative (telling the account, going through the events, narrating the details)
• about the matters (the things practiced, the performances, actions, businesses, facts, deeds, events)
• which were fully-assured and continue being fully-assured in us (already filled-up with assurance, the full carriage or carrying capacity, brought and filled-up to the measure and so we have the full contents of assurance, conviction and confidence within our sphere of action, among us regarding these matters),
  • according as (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that)
  • the onlookers from the beginning (the people who looked at these matters for themselves, as doing an autopsy, eyewitnesses, who saw or perceived them themselves from the start)
  • and who became assistants of the word (attendants of God's Word; “assistants” literally means under-rowers, ordinary sailors on a ship who are in subordination and act/serve under the immediate direction of their captain; the "word" refers to the spoken-account of God's inner thoughts which contain individual words constituting what He speaks to/for mankind - these people became assistants pertaining to God's Word regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ which is the good-message, gospel or evangel; they were serving by attending in subservience to God's will which is expressed in His Word)
  • gave-over to us (handed over, delivered alongside/beside us),

...also it was considered (supposed) by me...

• after I followed-beside and continue following-beside all-things (closely coming/going after everything in the same way/road that these matters go)
• from-the-top (from a place that is above, upwards, or at the start, at the commencement - this phrase is figuratively referring to the truth that Luke received information originating from God Who is at the top, above, upwards in heaven by revelation regarding all of these things beginning at the start or commencement)

...to write accurately successively (exactly and sequentially, precisely and following each event one after the other in order according to position)...

• to you (addressing this writing to "you" which is a pronoun in the singular form to emphasize that the people to whom Luke is writing after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ are viewed as one group or body of people - the people among whom these matters have been fully-assured by the assistants of God's Word, as verses 1 and 2 above),
• strongest Theophilus (your strength is that you are loved by God, which is a title emphasizing superiority in strength and exerted force; the Greek word Theophilus means "God's loved" or "beloved of God," and the word "loved" is the friendly or brotherly kind of love - strongest friend of God - you love God and God loves you with the brotherly or friendly kind of love, referring to the fact that you talk things over with each other regarding these matters),

...for the purpose and result that you would fully-know the safety (have full, clear and exact personal knowledge of the surety, the certainty, so that you cannot be tripped-up or thrown-down and thereby fall from your position)...

• about whose words (the spoken-account of the people who took-on-hand to arrange a narrative concerning the matters having been fully-assured in us, as verse 1 above)
• you were resounded (orally taught, informed by word of mouth with the sound of the spoken-account of the inner thoughts of God going into your ears, as verse 2 above).

[Reference: Matthew 1:1; Mark 1:1; John 1:1-18; Acts 1:1, 6:4, 26:16; I Corinthians 4:1; I Peter 1:12; II Peter 1:20 and 21; Hebrews 2:3 and 4.]

Verses 5-7:

^.5There became in the days of Herod king of Judea some priest, Zacharias by-name from (the) daily-service of Abia, and a wife to him from the daughters of Aaron and her name Elizabeth; ^.6but they used-to-be both righteous-people before God journeying in all the commandments and righteous-actions of the Lord without-blame; ^.7and there used-to not be children to them as-because Elizabeth used-to-be barren and both used-to-be having advanced² in their days.

During the days of Herod king of Judea (this refers to Herod the Great who was appointed king by the Roman senate, and after 3 years he took control of Jerusalem; he reigned for 37 years, and some scholars indicate that Herod died early 1 B.C.), it came to pass that there was...

• a certain priest whose name was Zacharias from the daily-service of Abia (originating from Abijah's order or course of priests as detailed in I Chronicles 23:6 - 24:19; this indicates that Zacharias was a descendant of Levi, Aaron, and Abijah; priests were to represent the people before God, making necessary offerings towards God on behalf of the people),
• and a wife to him from the daughters of Aaron (she also was a descendant of Aaron, and therefore also of Levi) and her name was Elizabeth;

...but during that past time, historically, they were both righteous-people before God (people who were just, living in a right/just state from God’s viewpoint, as being in-front-of, opposite-to, facing Him) while they were journeying (traveling or passing from one location to another, living their everyday lives) within the cause and sphere of action of every one of the...

• commandments (the things that are enjoined or commanded)
• and righteous-actions (just actions, the effects, products, results of carrying out God's righteousness, the pronounced justice issuing from the process of justification, the actions of making things right, doing the right things)
  • of/from the Lord (referring to God by the name of Lord or Master, Greek noun Kurios, and this usage emphasizes and confirms the validity and authenticity of God’s lordship, dominion and authority over and relative-to His creations, plus the respectful submission due to Him; this word is used in Greek as a translation for the Hebrew word Jehovah, Yahweh, and refers to God in His covenant-relationship to that-which He created)

...without-blame (they were un-blamable, blameless, no fault to be found because of any incompleteness on their part); and they did not have children (no child born to/by them, none by birth) as for the fact and cause that Elizabeth was continuing to be barren (sterile) and both Zacharias and Elizabeth were already advanced in their days (they had gone before, ahead or in-front of the usual time for giving birth to a child - they were old).

[Reference: I Chronicles 23:6 - 24:19; Nehemiah 12:17-24.]

Verses 8-10:

^.8But it came-to-pass in him serving-as-a-priest in the arrangement of his daily-service before God, ^.9according to the custom of the priesthood, he obtained to burn-incense having gone into the interior-temple of the Lord; ^.10and all the multitude of the people used-to-be praying outside in the hour of the incense.

It came-to-pass (happened, became, occurred) while Zacharias was serving as a priest (performing a priestly function)...

• in the arrangement (what was arranged in ordered sequence, the rank as in the military sense, the arranged class or group)
• of his daily-service before God (in the full sight and presence of God),
• in accordance with the custom of the priesthood (the ethical thinking consisting of manners, customs, habits, etc, pertaining to the responsibility of performing priestly service),

...he obtained to burn-incense (he received the allotment of his service, his assigned task, which was for the purpose of burning incense thereby producing beautiful odors which represent the prayers to/with God by the people) after he went into the interior-temple of the Lord (entered the innermost part of God's temple).

Also during that past time all the fullness of the people (the mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly; this word usually refers to the descendants of Israel/Jacob) were continuing to be praying (communicating to/with God, speaking generally towards God) external to where Zacharias was located during the limited period of time when the incense was being burned by him.

Note: Prior to the time when Jesus accomplished salvation, the ‘interior-temple’ usually referred to the innermost-part of God's temple, the most sacred area within the temple in Jerusalem, where the only true God's presence was manifested-forth, called the "Holy of Holies." Hebrews 9:1-5 describes the holy tent during the old covenant times where incense was burned on coals to produce its odor daily. Also refer to Exodus 30:1-10, 40:5; Leviticus 10:1 and 2, 16:12 and 13; Psalm 141:1 and 2; Isaiah 6:4-6; and Hebrews 10:19-22.

Verses 11-17:

^.11But an angel of (the) Lord was seen by him having stood² out-from (the) right-sides of the sacrificial-altar of the incense; ^.12and Zacharias was disturbed having seen and fear fell on him. ^.13But the angel said towards him, "You must not be fearful, Zacharias, for-this-reason-that your supplication was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will give-birth-to a son to you, and you will call his name John; ^.14and joy will be to you and exultation, and many-people will joy on his genesis, ^.15for he will be great before the Lord, and wine and alcohol let him never drink, and he will be filled of holy spirit yet from his mother's womb; ^.16and many of the sons of Israel will turn-back on (the) Lord their God, ^.17and he will go-forth before Him in (the) spirit and ability of Elijah, to turn-back (the) hearts of fathers on children and un-persuaded-people in (the) thoughtfulness of righteous-people, to prepare a people having been fully-prepared² for (the) Lord."

One of the Lord God's angels was seen by him (this angel presented himself to be perceived with the eyes and known by Zacharias) after the angel stood and continued standing at the right-hand side of the sacrificial-altar of the incense (this altar refers to the altar on which incense is burned representing prayers being offered to God; the right-hand side indicates a place or position of authority, power, honor, blessing, grace, approval, and excellence).

However, Zacharias was disturbed after he saw the angel (he was caused to be stirred up, agitated after he perceived the angel - just like a normally calm pool of water is agitated and moves when something else is thrown into it breaking through its surface and causing a rippling effect over the whole pool) and fear fell on him (fright embraced him, he became afraid).

But the angel said towards him, "You must not be fearful (it is imperative that you do not have fear, don't be afraid), Zacharias, on account of this reason that...

• your supplication (your specific communication of prayer, beseeching God regarding some lack and thus having a specific need in a particular situation or circumstance, the making known of the needful request spoken to God - this supplication by Zacharias while serving in his priestly function was about redemption and salvation for the people)
  • was heard (listened to favorably and his request was granted by God),
• and your wife (woman) Elizabeth will give birth to a son to you (bring forth, bear a son, beget a male child from your sperm),
• and you will call his name John (to designate and describe his distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc - his name will be 'John' - emphasizing joy as the angel explains in the following phrases; also the future tense was used by the angel in this command because Zacharias was to obey it at a future time, not that the angel would force him);
• and joy (rejoicing, the state of elation or enjoyment because of receiving something good ultimately from God)
  • will be to/for you
• and exultation (elation, as though dancing and much leaping and springing about),
• and a lot of people will joy on his genesis (will be made joyful, rejoice, caused to have joy resting or based upon his origin, source, genealogical background of lineage, race, kind, descent),
  • for he will be great before the Lord (large in magnitude, importance, measure, degree, estimation, quality, etc, in the sight and presence of the Lord, referring to God as verse 6 above),
  • and wine (usually this refers to the fermented juice of grapes which affects those who drink it, such as for intoxication or for health) and alcohol (intoxicating drink made from something other-than grapes)
    • let him never drink (this is a polite command or a very strong suggestion advising that John should think the correct way regarding drinking those types of drinks during his lifetime; also the word translated “never” comes from two Greek words both meaning “no” or “not” – the double negative emphasizes the point – he should not ever drink, he should not at any time drink wine and alcohol),
  • and he will be filled of holy spirit yet from his mother's womb (filled up with sanctified spirit-life from God in him conditionally from birth; God would give holy spirit to John upon the condition of believing what God told him and then living accordingly, similar to the holy spirit that many of God's people received from Him for specific periods of time throughout the ages, such as Jacob, Moses, Isaiah);
• and a lot of the sons of Israel (the offspring, descendants of Israel, children of the man previously called Jacob)
• will turn-back on the Lord their God (actively turn themselves round in their minds upon/towards the Lord Who is the God of them; the word "God" refers to the First, Superior or Ultimate One, the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His power and light; He is the only true God; also, the usage of the name of God refers to the fullness of everything involved with God Himself, all that He is and will continue to be, all of His authoritative-power, ability, workings, etc, His distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, and quality),
  • and emphatically he will go-forth before Him (in Greek there is a definite word for “he” plus the verb meaning “he will go-forth” giving emphasis – he himself, John, will come ahead of, in front of God in His sight and presence)
    • within the sphere of action of the spirit and ability of Elijah (referring to the spirit which emanated able-power, capability, that was given by God to Elijah when he was alive before his death),
  • to turn-back
  • the hearts of fathers (the word "heart" literally means: the organ which keeps the fleshy body alive by circulating the blood, but figuratively here it means: the center or core of a person's being, the seat of his whole personal self and life - the center/core of the fathers, both biological and those who teach younger people regarding God and the things of God)
  • upon their children (both biological and those who learn from older men regarding God and things of God)
  • and un-persuaded-people (people who are unwilling to be convinced by Godly instruction)
  • in the thoughtfulness of righteous-people (within the sphere of action of thinking in the mind, having the sensible and intellectual thoughts that the people who are just, in a right/just state, justified, have and evidence towards them),
  • to prepare (make ready)
    • a people (a mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly)
    • having been fully-prepared and continuing fully-prepared for the Lord (made ready for the Master - God, as putting an implement or vessel down in the correct position so it is prepared for its appropriate use; refer also to verse 76 below)."

Angels

An angel is a spirit-being whose office and character is one of a messenger in official service via words and/or actions. The word "angel" comes from the Greek word aggello which means to tell or deliver a message and therefore an angel could be called a "messenger." Those angels who have continued to take their instructions from the only true God are also now under the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those angels who have refused to take their instructions from God and have instead decided to follow the devil are known as devils (devil-spirits, demons, evil, unclean or unholy spirits). The devil (satan, the snake/serpent, etc) was once one of God's angels, but he rebelled against God wanting to take God's place and he continues attempting to do so. We should also note that the Bible shows us that no human-being was or is or will be a spirit-being angel! Refer to Hebrews chapter 1.

Judeans/Israelites

The title "Judeans" refers to people who are descendants of Judah, who was one of the twelve brothers who fathered the twelve tribes of Israel/Jacob. The name Israel was given by God via one of His angels to Jacob, the biological father of the twelve men forming the twelve tribes of Israel. “Jacob” means: supplanter, contender, organizer, the one who strives or wrestles to get goals accomplished via the natural realm. “Israel” means: the one who is strong with God, the one who strives or wrestles to receive God’s blessings, and who accomplishes God’s goals by doing God’s intention, allowing God to be his guide via God’s spirit realm – God commands, rules, and has authority over Israel. Refer to Genesis 32:27 and 28, 35:10, and Hosea 12:3 and 4. The title “Israelites” (referring to the physical descendants of Jacob/Israel) may also include those who call themselves “Judeans.” The record in I Kings chapter 12 details the division of the nation of Israel into the 10 northern tribes (then referred to as Israel) and the 2 southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin (then referred to as Judah).

[Reference: Numbers 6:2-8; Matthew 11:7-15; Mark 1:2 and 3, 9:13. Also refer to the article Angels (http://www.truebiblestudy.com/Angels.htm).]

Verses 18-20:

^.18And Zacharias said towards the angel, "According to what will I know this, for I am an elderly-man and my wife having advanced² in her days?" ^.19And the angel having answered said to him, "I am Gabriel, the (angel) having stood-beside² before God, and I was apostled to utter-forth towards you and to good-message these-things to you; ^.20and look!, you will be being silent and not being able to utter-forth continuously-until which days these-things may come-to-pass in-the-place of which you did not believe my words, the-ones-which will be fulfilled for their time."

Zacharias said towards the angel, "In accordance with what will I personally know this (will I have a truly active and relative knowing of the truth of what you are saying to me, how will I be knowledgeable about it), for emphatically I am an elderly-man (in Greek there is a definite word for “I” plus the verb meaning “I am” giving emphasis – I myself am old in age) and my wife has already advanced in her days (she has gone before, ahead or in-front of the usual time for giving birth to a child - she is also old)?"

The angel answered by saying to him...

• "Emphatically I am Gabriel (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “I” – I myself am Gabriel),
  • the angel who stood and continues to stand near-by in the sight and presence of God,
• and I was apostled (sent forth/away on this specific mission or assignment by God)
  • to speak towards/with you
  • and to good-message these-things to you (to preach the gospel, evangelize to you the things that I am telling you);
• and look (behold, see - in the sense of calling attention - pay attention)!,
• you will be being silent (keeping quiet) and not being able to utter-forth (not having the able-power, not being capable of speaking)
  • for the whole duration of time up to which days these-things would come-to-pass (come into being, become, happen, occur)
• in return for which you did not believe my words (you did not have faith/trust in the words that I said to you, the spoken-account of God's inner thoughts which contain individual words constituting what He speaks to/for you),
  • the words which will be fulfilled for their time (these words will be made-full, caused to be filled with the full-contents, filled-up into their specific time, accomplished at the precise period, the opportune occasion, the season pertaining to them)."

The fact that Zacharias did not believe God's words spoken by the angel to him did not stop God from going ahead with His plan of redemption and salvation for the people - Zacharias would have a son by Elizabeth and that son would be John the baptizer.

Verses 21 and 22:

^.21And the people used-to-be expecting Zacharias and used-to-marvel in him taking-time in the interior-temple; ^.22but having come-out he used-to not be-able to utter-forth to them, and they fully-knew that he saw² a sight in the interior-temple, and he used-to-be beckoning to them and he used-to throughly-remain dumb.

During that past time the people were expecting (the mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly were watching for the arrival of) Zacharias and they were continuing to marvel (to be astonished, looking-on with wonder and amazement) while he is passing a lot of chronological time within the interior-temple (as verse 9 above).

When Zacharias went out from the interior-temple he was continuing not to be able (not capable, he did not have the ability) to speak to them (as the angel prophesied in verse 20 above). He could not say the usual priestly blessing towards the people when he exited the interior-temple.

They fully-knew (had full, clear and exact personal knowledge) that he had seen a sight (perceived with his eyes so as to understand the object-of-sight, a vision, in his mind's thoughts as a result of physical sight) in the interior-temple, and emphatically he was beckoning (he himself was gesturing, indicating by moving his limbs through the air) to/at them and he was continuing to throughly-remain dumb (to stay thoroughly without being able to speak).  

Verses 23-25:

^.23And it came-to-pass as the days were filled of his official-service he went-away into his house; ^.24but after these days Elizabeth his wife conceived and used-to-hide herself five months saying ^.25that, "Thus (the) Lord did² for me in (the) days which He looked-on to take-away my reproach among men."

It happened that as the days were filled of his official-service (when the length of time was filled up to completion with his area of service, the performance of the office, work, official-duty of public service which Zacharias was obligated to perform) he went away into his house (he came home).

After the events recorded in verses 8-23 above, Elizabeth his wife conceived (took together, received, caught, seized, grasped, surrounded - in this context referring to the fact that the sperm from Zacharias became surrounded by the egg within her during conception) and she was continuing to hide herself (to keep herself from view, concealed, cryptic to/from others around the location where they lived, described in verse 39 below, so as not to be noticed) for 5 months saying that...

• "Thus the Lord did for me (referring to God but addressing him as Lord/Master  - in this manner the Lord performed for me and this has not changed; she did not have a miscarriage)
• during the days which He looked-on (during the period of time of the official-service in the interior-temple when He was perceiving the prayers of the people via Zacharias)
• to take-away my reproach among men (to remove, deprive me of and thus freeing me from my defamation among mankind, the insult against me for not bearing any child up to this point in my life, as verse 36 below)."

The Lord God did not reproach her nor did He impregnate Elizabeth, but He set this plan in motion at the time when He told Zacharias by means of the angel Gabriel when he was inside the interior-temple performing his priestly official-service. Then, after Zacharias and Elizabeth returned home, she got pregnant by her husband. Some scholars estimate that this occurred in June, 4 B.C.

Verses 26-38:

^.26But in the month, the sixth (month), the angel Gabriel was apostled from God into a city of Galilee, Nazareth by-name, ^.27towards a virgin having been betrothed² to an adult-male, Joseph by-name from (the) house of David, and the name of the virgin (was) Mary. ^.28And having gone-into (the house) towards her he said, "Joy, having been made-graceful², the Lord (is) with you." ^.29But the (virgin) was throughly-disturbed on the word and used-to throughly-calculate what-quality this greeting may be. ^.30And the angel said to her, "You must not be fearful, Mary, for you found grace with God; ^.31and look!, you will conceive in (your) womb and you will bring-forth a son and you will call his name Jesus; ^.32this-one will be great and he will be called son of (the) Highest, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father, ^.33and he will reign-as-king on the house of Jacob into the ages, and there will not be completion of his kingdom." ^.34And Mary said toward the angel, "How will this be since I do not know an adult-male?" ^.35And the angel having answered said to her, "Holy Spirit will come on you and (the) ability of (the) Highest will shadow-on you, on-which-account also the holy-thing being begotten will be called son of God. ^.36And look!, Elizabeth your family-kinswoman also she conceived² a son in her old-age and this is (the) sixth month for her, the (woman) being called barren, ^.37because every spoken-matter from God will not be unable." ^.38And Mary said, "Look!, the slave of (the) Lord; may it become to me according to your spoken-matter." And the angel went-away from her.

During the month, emphatically and specifically the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy (in December), the angel Gabriel was apostled from God (sent forth/away from God on another specific mission or assignment, as verse 19 above) into a city of Galilee (a city usually referred to a fortified, walled town) which is named Nazareth.

On this occasion Gabriel was apostled towards a virgin who was betrothed and continuing betrothed (promised by their families) to an adult-male (grown-man) whose name was Joseph originating from the house of David (he was a descendant of King David), and the name of the virgin was Mary. At this time Mary and Joseph were committed to each other in marriage but the scheduled time for them to consummate it had not arrived yet.

After the angel went into the house where Mary was located towards her, he said...

• "Joy (rejoice, you must joy - in this context it was spoken as a form of greeting to her),
  • having been made-graceful and continuing graceful (you have already been graced by God, He caused you to become graceful, you have received grace and this truth has not changed),
    • [Grace is what is freely bestowed without any merit on the recipient's part; it includes reference to the attitude and quality of the one giving something favorable to another. Grace is not bestowed because somebody deserves a wage that is owed for something they said or did, nor because they begged so hard, nor because they forced the giver to give! Grace is bestowed because the giver wants to give by his own freedom of will to the recipient - it is completely unmerited favor from the giver to the recipient.]
  • the Lord is with you (referring to God by the name of Lord or Master, as verse 6 above - the Master is in company and association with you; this is how Mary had been made-graceful)."

But the virgin was throughly-disturbed on the word (she was thoroughly caused to be stirred up, agitated resting or based upon the spoken-account of God's inner thoughts which the angel said to her - just like a normally calm pool of water is agitated and moves when something else is thrown into it breaking through its surface and causing a rippling effect over the whole pool) and during that past time she was throughly-calculating what-quality this greeting may be (she was fully reckoning, completely reasoning, disputing or logically computing throughout what sort, how, what kind or manner would this salutation be).

And the angel gave Mary some details by saying to her...

• "You must not be fearful (it is imperative that you do not have fear, don't be afraid),
  • Mary,
• for you found grace with God (you came-upon and received what God offers to you which is bestowed unmerited or undeserved favor at rest beside, at or with Him);
• and look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
• you will conceive in your womb  (become pregnant, as verse 24 above)
• and you will bring-forth (produce) a son
• and you will call his name Jesus (to designate and describe his distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc - his name will be 'Jesus' - emphasizing gracious salvation as the angel explains in the following phrases);
  • this-one will be great (specifically this human-being will be large in magnitude, importance, measure, degree, estimation, quality, etc)
  • and he will be called son of the Highest (the word "son" emphasizes origin, quality, and essence - he will be spoken as, given the name of being the son of the Most-High, referring to God Who is the most elevated, the most exalted),
  • and the Lord God will give to him the throne of David his father (he will sit on King David's throne because he will be a descendant of him, a legal heir to his ancestor's throne, and God promised David that this would happen),
  • and he will reign-as-king on the house of Jacob into the ages (he will reign as king over his dominion, he will exercise his kingship, the royal ruler relating down on the household of Jacob - the man also named ‘Israel’ - for/throughout the durations of lifetimes, which is forever, for all eternity),
  • and there will not be completion of his kingdom (the word "kingdom" refers to all that is contained within his sovereignty, his kingly or royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power, etc - it will not be completed in the sense of another kingdom being established after it; his kingdom will not have an ending)."

Mary said toward the angel (her question shows that she wanted to know more details because she believed what the angel told her and she wanted to obey any instructions that he could provide to her from God), "How will this be (in what manner will this exist) since it is a fact that I do not personally know an adult-male (in the sense of not having an intimate sexual relationship with a grown-man)?" Mary was still a virgin and had not been sexually intimate with Joseph yet because that time had not arrived.

The angel continued to explain by answering and saying to her...

• "Holy Spirit (referring to God Himself, emphasizing the truth that He is Spirit and He is Holy, Sanctified; this is His essence and realm of power, authority, and action - God Who is Holy Spirit)
  • will come/go down on you
• and the ability of the Highest (the able-power, capability of/from the Most-High, the most elevated, the most exalted - emphasizing the truth that God is the Most-High, as verse 32 above)
  • will shadow-on you (put His shadow on you, overshadow you – you will be covered-by and enveloped-within the consistency of the Most-High's ability),
    • on account of this also the holy-thing being begotten in you (that-which is sanctified, set-apart from the state of being common, defiled or unclean against God - what is being begotten within you is holy)
    • will be called son of God (emphasizing the origin, quality, and essence - son of God Who is Holy).
• And look (behold, see - in the sense of calling attention, pay attention)!,
• Elizabeth your family-kinswoman (your relative, refer to verse 5 above regarding lineage) also emphatically she has already conceived a son (she herself is pregnant with a son and this fact has not changed) in her old-age
• and this is the 6th month for her,
  • specifically the woman who is being called barren (people say that she is sterile),
• because every spoken-matter from God (all of what God speaks being the source of it, every saying or portion of the whole of God’s Word containing the specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance, every spoken-matter from God Who is the source from Whom it proceeds)
  • will not be unable (the usage of a double negative figuratively emphasizes that – definitely every one of them will not be lacking ability, incapable, without able-power)."

Mary said...

• "Look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
• the slave of the Lord (the Lord's bond-servant, I serve as a slave to the Master, a slave in the service category, bound to serve my Master Who is God, the Highest);
• may it become to me according to your spoken-matter (may it come to pass, come into being, happen in accordance with what God says which is what you are speaking to me)."

And the angel went away from her.

[Reference: Genesis 32:27 and 28; II Samuel 7:12 and 13; Jeremiah 23:5 and 6; Matthew 1:1; Acts 2:29-34; Romans 1:3; II Timothy 2:8; Revelation 3:7, 5:5, 22:16. Also reference the articles The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and The Name of God (http://www.truebiblestudy.com/The_name_of_Lord_Jesus_Christ.htm; http://www.truebiblestudy.com/The_name_of_God.htm).]

Verses 39-45:

^.39But having stood-up Mary in these days journeyed into the mountain-area with earnest-diligence into a city of Judah, ^.40and she went into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ^.41And it came-to-pass as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the baby in her womb jumped and Elizabeth was filled of holy spirit, ^.42and she sounded-up with a great crying-out and said, "Having been blessed² (are) you among women, and having been blessed² (is) the fruit of your womb; ^.43and from-where (comes) this to me in order that the mother of my Lord may come towards me? - ^.44for look!, as the sound of your greeting became into my ears the baby in my womb jumped in exultation, ^.45and happy (is) the (woman) having believed that there will be a completion for the-things having been uttered-forth² to her from (the) Lord."

After Mary stood-up (arose) during these days of the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, she journeyed (passed, traveled) into the mountain/hill area with earnest-diligence (in company and association with speedy application or performance of duty, assiduity) into a city of Judah (a walled town where the descendants or tribe of Judah was located), and she went into the house belonging to Zacharias (his dwelling, which includes the household of people living in that building) and she greeted Elizabeth (drew her to herself, saluted her).

It came-to-pass (became, happened, occurred) as Elizabeth heard the words of Mary's greeting the baby in her womb jumped (the thing that was to be brought forth from her womb moved suddenly, sprang, leaped) and Elizabeth was filled of holy spirit. She was filled up with enough information revealed to the holy/sanctified spirit-life given to her by God in this situation to be able to speak to Mary appropriately. God gave Elizabeth holy spirit upon the condition of believing what God told her and then living accordingly, similar to the holy spirit that many of God's people received from Him for specific periods of time throughout the ages, such as Jacob, Moses, Isaiah. The holy spirit within Elizabeth communicated the information to her mind so that she would know exactly what to say and do.

And Elizabeth sounded-up with a great crying-out (she used her voice, voiced, made a large outcry, shouting, wailing with her voice – in this context referring to speaking words of prophecy loudly) by saying...

• "You are in the state of having already been blessed and continuing blessed among women (you remain blessed by God because God spoke well of you; He spoke words that are good to and regarding you; what God says comes to pass and the recipient - Mary - receives the blessing; what is spoken by God happens to the recipient which is good for you; Mary receives the good things that God says, God's blessings, as verses 28, 30, 31, 35 and 37 above),
• and the fruit of your womb (that-which is produced, the produce of/from your womb - referring to the baby developing inside of Mary) is in the state of having already been blessed and continuing blessed (as verses 32 and 33 above);
• and from-where (how, from what manner of action) does this event happen to me for the purpose and result that the mother of my Lord would come towards me (the woman who will give birth to my Master would go towards me - Elizabeth knew via her holy spirit that the child to be born by Mary would be her Master, referring to the Christ being ruler over the earth)? -
• for look (behold, see, pay attention)!, as the sound of your greeting became into my ears (came to pass from the outside into the inside or the interior of my ears - when I heard your salutation)
• the baby (John) in my womb jumped in exultation (within the sphere of action of elation, as though dancing and much leaping and springing about, as verse 14 above),
• and happy is the woman (the word translated "happy" means that the person spoken about is pronounced happy, felicitous; she is a happy-person from God's viewpoint, not that she felt happy at that time necessarily, but because of the reason that Elizabeth explains)
  • who has believed (had faith or trusted - you believed the information that God made known to you via the angel Gabriel to have confidence-in with assured certainty and surety)
  • that there will be a completion (a perfection, the state of having ultimately arrived at the ending-issue, the point of accomplishment and performance having reached and fulfilled God’s intended state)
  • for the-things that were uttered-forth and continue uttered-forth to her (referring to the spoken-matter that the angel spoke to Mary and which did not change)
  • from the Lord (God is the source of the things that the angel told Mary)."

Elizabeth prophesied to Mary; she spoke-forth God's words being revealed or communicated to her via her holy spirit-life concerning the past, present, and the future.

Verses 46-56:

^.46And Mary said, "My soul expresses-the-greatness-of the Lord, ^.47and my spirit exulted on God, my Savior, ^.48because He observed upon the humiliation of His slave; for look!, from-now-on all generations will pronounce me happy ^.49because the Able-One did great-things to me, and His name is Holy, ^.50and His mercy into generations and generations (is) to the (people) being fearful (towards) Him; ^.51He did a strong-thing in His arm; He scattered-throughout arrogant-people with their mind-process of heart; ^.52He pulled-down able-people from thrones and heightened humble-people; ^.53He filled (the people) hungering of good-things and apostled-out (the people) being wealthy empty-people; ^.54He helped Israel His servant to be caused-to-remember mercy ^.55according as He uttered-forth towards our fathers, to Abraham and his seed into the age." ^.56And Mary remained together-with her as three months and she returned into her house.

Mary said (speaking the words of prophecy given to her from her holy spirit-life, just like Elizabeth)...

• "My soul expresses the greatness of the Lord (the word "soul" refers to the life of her physical body which is evidenced by breathing, her soul/breath life, and figuratively referring to her being, including her character and disposition as she is living her life - my soul enlarges, magnifies, acknowledges that the Master is great, majestic; God is again referred to with the title of Lord, as verse 6 above),
• and my spirit exulted on God, my Savior (the word "spirit" refers to the holy spirit-life that God gave Mary upon the condition of believing what God told her and then living accordingly, similar to the holy spirit that many of God's people received from Him for specific periods of time throughout the ages, such as Jacob, Moses, Isaiah; also it is interesting to notice that the verb “exulted” is in the aorist tense in the Greek texts, which is why it may be translated as a past event – however, this tense can refer to any time past, present, or future emphasizing that once this event is accomplished it is done, finished, it will not need to be done a second time! - my spirit is elated, as leaping a lot, jumping, springing about, dancing, resting or based upon the only true God Who is the source of my salvation, as explained in the following verses of this prophecy regarding the past, present, and the future),
• because He observed upon the humiliation of His slave (God attentively looked at, mentally envisioned, was mentally aware of and contemplated down on His bond-servant's humiliation - referring to Mary's position of humbleness with respect to what God says, as verse 38 above - her humbling, she brought herself to a state of lowliness, of low degree, a lowly position relative to the Lord God);
• in truth, look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
• from-now-on all generations will pronounce me happy (from this present time onwards all/every one of the time-periods of races, descent or kind of living-beings will consider or deem me to be a happy-person from God's viewpoint; they will felicitate me, consider me to be happy)
• because the Able-One did great-things to me (referring to God by the title of the One Who has able-power, ability, Who is capable, dynamic - the Able-One performed, made, produced, brought about the action of large things, having a big effect, a large impact to/for me),
• and His name is Holy (His name incorporates the fullness of everything involved with the Lord God Who is the Able-One, including His ability, workings, etc, His distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, and quality - in the context His name is the One Who is holy, sanctified, set-apart from the state of being common, defiled or unclean; His essence is holiness, as verse 35 above - He is the standard of/for being holy),
• and His mercy into generations and generations (the word "mercy" means active-relief because of withholding merited judgment, not bestowing punishment on one who deserves to be punished - God's mercy which He bestows into/for all of the time-periods of races, descent or kind of living-beings)
  • is to/for the people being fearful towards Him (the people who are having fright, being afraid at the consequences of their performance of any wrong behavior, those who manifest the awe and respect that is rightfully due and ought to be shown towards/for God);
• He did a strong-thing in His arm (He performed strongness, exerted force, power in effect, exerted strength within the sphere of action of His arm; the word "arm" is a figure of speech referring to God's powerful strength);
• He scattered-throughout (He thoroughly scattered, dispersed throughout different areas away from Himself)
  • arrogant-people (people who are haughty, giving the impression of superiority or being-over others which is evidenced by them in an overbearing manner)
  • with their mind-process of heart (by the conscious thinking-through and reflecting-on the perception in their mind, the meditation of the center/core of their being; the singular form of "mind-process" and "heart" is used emphasizing that all of the arrogant-people have the same mind-process of heart);
• He pulled-down able-people from thrones (a "throne" is the high seat designated for a king and so includes all the regal authority associated with that position - He forcefully took down capable people in a position of royalty away from that higher position to a lower position)
• and heightened humble-people (God elevated, lifted high, exalted the people who are lowly, in a state of lowliness, a position of humbleness with respect to God and what He says);
• He filled the people hungering of good-things (He made those who are hungry quite-full with enough of the things issuing from God Who is good, the things that are perfectly admirable from God’s viewpoint, the things according to God’s words and intention because God is the source of all true goodness)
• and apostled-out the people being wealthy empty-people (He sent the people who are rich forth on a specific mission, sent them out with an assignment of being people without wealth, empty of any contents from their richness, void of wealth);
• He helped Israel His servant (the verb translated "to help" means literally to anti-receive, to receive/take in the opposite direction - therefore it means to give to another what you have already received and thereby you render the appropriate assistance and support in that specific circumstance; also the word translated "servant" in this context could be translated as "child" to indicate tenderness and affection towards the people of Israel who behave themselves correctly, whose relationship is as a child in a very close relationship, and as a servant from the work/service relationship viewpoint - God helped Israel His servant/child) - how? -
  • to be caused-to-remember mercy (to recollect, call to Israel's mind, be reminded of God's active-relief because of withholding merited judgment, not bestowing punishment on Israel who deserves to be punished)
• according as He uttered-forth (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that God spoke)
• towards our fathers (with our forefathers, our ancestors back to the man named Israel/Jacob),
• to Abraham (who was Israel/Jacob's forefather)
• and his seed into the age (to Abraham's offspring or posterity for the lifetime; the seed specifically refers to the Christ, the Anointed-one, the Messiah - God's mercy was, is, and will-be spoken and evidenced to the people who believe regarding the Christ, and specifically to Christ himself for the duration of Christ's life)."

Mary remained (stayed, continued) in conjunction with Elizabeth as three months. At that time Elizabeth would be in the 9th month of her pregnancy and Mary in her 3rd month. Then Mary returned into her house (she went back home to the dwelling in Nazareth with the household of people including Joseph her husband in March, 3 B.C.).

[Reference: Acts 3:25; Romans 9:7; Galatians 3:16 and 29; Hebrews 2:16.]

Verses 57-66:

^.57But the time for Elizabeth of her bringing-forth was filled, and she gave-birth-to a son; ^.58and the dwellers-around and her family-kinsmen heard that (the) Lord expressed-the-greatness-of His mercy with her and they used-to joy-together with her. ^.59And it came-to-pass in the day, the eighth (day), they came to circumcise the young-child and they used-to-call him on the name of his father Zacharias, ^.60and having answered his mother said, "No, but he will be called John!" ^.61And they said towards her that, "There is not-one-person out-from your family-kindred who is called by this name." ^.62But they used-to-beckon to his father the (name) what ever he may intend him to be called, ^.63and having asked (for) a tablet he wrote saying, "John is his name." And all-people marveled. ^.64But with-that his mouth was opened and his tongue, and he used-to utter-forth blessing God. ^.65And fear came-to-pass on all the (people) dwelling-around them and all these spoken-matters used-to-be throughly-uttered-forth in the whole mountain-area of Judea, ^.66and all the (people) having heard put in their heart saying, "Who consequently will this young-child be?" - for also (the) hand of (the) Lord used-to-be with him.

The chronological time for Elizabeth to bring-forth was filled (the length or quantity of time lasting for the particular duration of nine months was filled up to completion with enough of it to produce the child by birth), and she gave birth to a son (she brought forth, bore a male child, as verse 13 above). John was born in March, 3 B.C.

The dwellers-around (people dwelling or inhabiting about them) and her family-kinsmen (relatives) heard that the Lord expressed the greatness of His mercy (God enlarged, magnified, acknowledged that His active-relief is great) in company and association with Elizabeth and during that past time they were continuing to joy (to be joyful, rejoice because of receiving something good ultimately from God) in conjunction with her.

It came to pass (became, happened, occurred) during the day, emphatically and specifically the eighth day (8th day of John's life), they came to circumcise the young-child (little-boy; also refer to the details regarding circumcision below) and they were calling him resting or based upon the name of his father Zacharias, and his mother Elizabeth answered by saying...

• "No,
• but contrary to the name of Zacharias,
• he will be called John (as the angel told Zacharias in verse 13 above)!"

However, the people said towards Elizabeth that, "There is no-one (nobody) originating from your family-kindred (those related to you by birth, a family relationship) who is called by/with this name."

During that past time they were beckoning (gesturing, nodding, indicating by moving their heads and limbs as a sign) to his father Zacharias to find out what ever name that he would intend him (might will with his active volition and desire for the young-child) to be called. After he asked to be given a tablet (a little flat board) he wrote saying, "John is his name (as the angel told him in verse 13 above)." And all of the people marveled (every one of those with the parents were astonished and looked-on with wonder and amazement).

With-that (next, beside that occurrence, immediately) Zacharias' mouth was opened and his tongue (figuratively referring to the truth that he could perform the action of speaking again), and he spent time uttering-forth blessing God (speaking words that are well/good to and regarding God, speaking well of Him – this is according to God’s will). The things that the angel told Zacharias had come to pass and therefore he could speak again (as verse 20 above).

And fear came to pass on all the people dwelling-around them (every person inhabiting about them surrounding their location became this way; they had fright, being afraid at the consequences of the performance of any wrong behavior, and so they manifested the awe and respect that is rightfully due and ought to be shown towards God).

All these spoken-matters (the portions of the whole of God’s Word, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance) was continuing to be thoroughly spoken in the whole (entire) mountain-area of Judea (this is the Greek and Latin form of the word "Judah", as verse 39 above), and after all the people heard these spoken-matters they put in their heart (placed them in the center/core of their beings) saying...

• "Who consequently (in correspondence to the spoken-matters, following on from these events, correspondingly what quality)
• will this young-child (little-boy) be?" -

...for also (in addition to what the people said it is true that) the hand of the Lord (God’s authority and power) was continuing to be with the young-child John during that past time. Again in this phrase God is referred to as the "Lord" to emphasize and confirm the validity and authenticity of God’s lordship, dominion and authority over and relative-to John.

Circumcision

Circumcision = the cutting-around of flesh. It is physically cutting the foreskin off from the rest of the male's flesh, thus separating and removing it from him, which necessitated the shedding of his blood while cutting, but afterwards being healed and not having to deal with that flesh anymore.

Circumcision among all the males of the descendants of Israel was originally asked by God to Abraham (“Abram” was his name before God changed it) as recorded in the Book of Genesis chapter 17. Let us read some verses from that chapter to get a better understanding of the passage in Luke.

Genesis 17:1-12 (KJV):

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Circumcision was the token of the covenant between God and Abraham, and then was to be passed down to his seed (offspring). In later years, God gave laws and precepts to Moses for the children of Israel to follow. These were known as "the law" to God's people who were descendants of Abraham, and that law incorporated the sign of circumcision.

The casting-off of the flesh helped God's people look forward to the coming of the Christ and the redemption and salvation that he would accomplish which would allow them to receive holy spirit-life and not be limited to the flesh. Therefore, to be uncircumcised would mean that that male, and his family, did not want to be part of God's covenant; it would be a demonstration of his rejection of what God said, what God had promised Abraham and his seed.

The Judeans/Israelites became physically circumcised to demonstrate their adherence to the old covenant. The old covenant has been superseded by the covenant of spirit since the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.

[Reference: Genesis 17:1-12, 21:4; Leviticus 12:3.]

Verses 67-80:

^.67And Zacharias his father was filled of holy spirit and he prophesied saying, ^.68"Blessed (is) the Lord God of Israel because He looked-intensely and made redemption for His people, ^.69and He raised-up a horn of salvation for us in (the) house of David, His child, ^.70according as He uttered-forth by means of (the) mouth of His holy prophets from (the) age: ^.71salvation out-from our enemies and out-from (the) hand of all the (people) hating us, ^.72to do mercy with our fathers and to be caused-to-remember His holy covenant; ^.73to give to us (the) oath which He swore towards Abraham our father ^.74to fearlessly render-service to Him, having been rescued out-from (the) hand of enemies, ^.75in holiness and righteousness before Him for all our days. ^.76But also you, young-child, will be called a prophet of (the) Highest for you will journey before (the) Lord to prepare his way: ^.77to give knowledge of salvation to His people in dismissal of their sins ^.78because-of (the) inner-parts of mercy of our God in which (the) Rising-one out-from (the) height will look-intensely-on us; ^.79to shine-light-upon the (people) sitting-down in darkness and shadow of death; to straighten-along our feet into (the) way of peace." ^.80And the young-child used-to-increase, and he used-to-be caused-to-be-strong with spirit, and he used-to-be in the desert-places until (the) day of his upward-pointing-out towards Israel.

As written in verse 64 above, Zacharias who was John's father spent time blessing God, and Luke the writer of this book explains that he was filled of holy spirit. He was filled up with enough information revealed to the holy/sanctified spirit-life given to him by God in this situation to be able to speak/answer appropriately. God gave Zacharias holy spirit upon the condition of believing what God told him and then living accordingly, similar to the holy spirit that many of God's people received from Him for specific periods of time throughout the ages, such as Jacob, Moses, Isaiah. The holy spirit within Zacharias communicated the information to his mind so that he would know exactly what to say and do (as verse 41 above). He was filled of holy spirit and he prophesied (spoke-forth God's words being revealed or communicated to him via his holy spirit-life concerning the past, present and the future) by saying...

• "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel (He is blessed - the adjective "blessed" means: good-worded, well-spoken; the spoken-account of His inner-thoughts is good/well; the words that come from Him are good/well; He is in the continuing and lasting standing and state of blessedness; the Lord God - blessed, and this truth does not change; He is the One Who bestows His blessings to others and His people of Israel are to speak-well of Him also)
• because He looked-intensely (looked-upon, inspected, observed with a view to help or relieve, visiting and doing what was needed in the situation)
• and made redemption (this verb "made" is in the aorist tense emphasizing that once this event was accomplished it was done, finished, it will not need to be done a second time - the Lord God did, performed, produced, brought about the action of redemption, which is loosening, releasing, freeing people away from any guilt, penalty, or punishment for sins by the offering of the one true sacrifice being the ransom, expiation, atonement money, the payment necessary)
  • for/to His people (the mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly),
• and He raised-up a horn of salvation for/to us (the word "horn" connotes a radiance of strength and power to overcome plus courage in the face of attack, and in this context referring to the Christ - the Lord God caused to arise a horn pertaining to our safety, the standing and state of being saved, made-safe to God from sins and their consequences, from destruction)
• in the house of David (within the sphere of action of David's house, referring to the household of people who are descendants of King David, as verses 27, 32 and 33 above),
  • His child (David served God as His child, not by seed but by adoption, which is also a very close relationship, and he served Him as His servant from the work/service relationship viewpoint),
• according as He uttered-forth (just as the Lord God spoke)
  • by means of the  mouth of His holy prophets (through the words coming out of/from the mouths of His sanctified prophets, speaking forth God's words to/before other people, prophesying about these events)
  • from the age (away from the time that the age began; in this context referring to the time that began in chronological motion from the day when God first spoke the promise of the coming savior, the Christ, in Genesis 3:15, and then God expelled mankind from Paradise that same day in Genesis 3:23 and 24 putting His gracious plan of redemption and salvation into active motion; this age had a starting point and it will also have an ending point - it will not last forever but it will end when all things will be subjected to Christ and then he gives the kingdom over to God with himself also in subjection to God, refer to I Corinthians 15:20-28, plus all of God's people will be together with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ in Paradise on earth as detailed in Revelation chapters 21 and 22):
• salvation (safety) out-from our enemies (those who oppose and exhibit enmity and hostility against us) and out-from the hand of all the people who are hating us (the word "hand" is used figuratively meaning: from the power and authority of those having active ill-will against us),
  • to do mercy with our fathers (to perform active-relief because of withholding merited judgment with our forefathers, ancestors)
  • and to be caused-to-remember His holy covenant (to recollect, call to mind, be reminded of the sanctified binding-agreement that He made with them);
• to give to us the oath (an oath was used to prove something as being undeniable, like a fence that fences in what is spoken, a confinement, restraint or enclosure of a promise or declaration regarding what He will do or what is true, etc - for the purpose of giving to us the outcome or result of the oath)
  • which He swore towards Abraham our father (God affirmed it using that oath towards/with our forefather Abraham)
  • to fearlessly render-service to Him (to perform service to God as hired servants, carrying-out service in a manner that is without fear),
    • after we have been rescued out-from the hand of enemies (delivered, snatched or drawn from the power and authority of those who oppose and exhibit enmity and hostility against us),
  • within the sphere of action of holiness (this word translated "holiness" means: the action of pure Godliness free from all crime, which is the state of constant observance of what God says, practicing every duty and function which thereby fulfills every obligation that God has given to be believed and carried-out)
  • and righteousness (justness, justice, the state of being and doing what is just/right)
    • before Him for all our days (in the sight and presence of God every day for as long as we live).
• But also you, young-child (addressing John as a young/little child and not as his son - this usage emphasizes the service relationship, as a little-boy being addressed by one who is more knowledgeable and mature regarding being a servant in the work/service category),
• will be called a prophet of the Highest (a person who speaks-forth God's words as directed concerning the past, present and/or future to, before, or in front of a person or people - belonging to the Highest, the Most-High God, God the most elevated, the most exalted)
• for you will journey before the Lord to prepare his way (you will pass or travel ahead of, precede the availability of redemption and salvation in the sight and presence of the Lord God to make the road/path of the one whom God will send ready – figuratively referring to the manner of action and method of proceeding to be taken by the horn of salvation; John was to prepare the people of Israel for the Lord Jesus Christ to come after him carrying-out his own ministry to those people; refer also to verse 17 above):
  • to give knowledge of salvation to His people (for the purpose of giving personal information that is a truly active and relative knowing of salvation to God's people, so that they are knowledgeable about safety, the standing and state of being saved, made-safe to God from sins and their consequences, from destruction; and again the word "people" refers to the mass or group of people collectively as one unit, one united assembly - knowledge of salvation of God's people)
    • within the sphere of action of dismissal of their sins (the discharge, the leaving or letting-go from concern, the setting-free, acquittal, the remission of debt or punishment owed by them due to their sins, which are acts of missing the mark of what God says, aberration from God's Word, God's will, God's law, God's precepts)
    • on account of the inner-parts of mercy of our God (literally referring to God's insides; figuratively referring to the inner affections, inner-self, feelings, emotions, attitudes, compassions relative to God's active-relief because of withholding merited judgment, the God of us not bestowing punishment on us who deserve to be punished)
    • in which (within the sphere of action of God's inner-parts of mercy)
    • the Rising-one out-from the height will look-intensely-on us (the Rising-one refers to the Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection who will come originating from the height and moving from the east where the sun/stars arise shining light down onto the earth; the "height" refers to the area upwards, the high position that God placed the Christ in after his resurrection, the exalted position - the Rising-one will look-upon, inspect, observe us with a view to help or relieve, visiting and doing what will be needed in the situation for/to us);
  • to shine-light-upon (to actively bring light on, cause light to shine upon and so make evident, visible, shining the light of salvation forth upon)
    • the people sitting-down within darkness and within the shadow of death (normally when someone is sitting down in a particular place - here it is in darkness and the surrounding area and shade of death - he is not going anywhere, unless another would come and give him the opportunity to get out of what he is in; in this context John was going to give mankind the opportunity to be in light – God's light);
  • to straighten-along our feet (cause our way of behaving during the everyday living of our lives to go straight down in motion, directing us)
    • into the way of peace (with a view to, directed to, and resulting in the correct path/road pertaining to peace, figuratively referring to the manner of action and method of proceeding relative to peace; peace is tranquil harmony, tranquility, peaceful wholeness, without any strife or disagreement - we may think of peace as the opposite of war, the opposite of conflict, the opposite of being at odds with the other party)."

During that past time the young-child, John, was continuing to increase (he was augmenting, expanding, growing in the physical category), and he was continuing to be caused-to-be-strong with spirit (made to exert force, have powerful strength, power-in-effect, exerted-strength with/by the holy spirit that God gave to him which was within his physical body, as verses 15 and 17 above), and he was continuing to be located in the desert-places (the desolate places, areas of wilderness)...

• until (continuing up-to, for as long a time to when)
• the day of (the period/length of time for, pertaining to)
• his upward-pointing-out (the showing of him as a pointer, the public display of John by God Who is above, as raising him up in the process or act of pointing him out with the finger, the indication, demonstration or exhibition of him)
• towards Israel (for the purpose or intent of approaching and being with the people of Israel).

John became the one who would baptize the people of Israel with water in order that he would make Jesus the Christ manifest to Israel. The Lord Jesus Christ is the promised seed of Genesis 3:15 and he made complete redemption and salvation available to Israel by baptism with holy spirit after his resurrection and ascension into heaven.

Notes:

In the Book of Luke, he writes the Greek verb ginomai many times, which can be translated into English as "to become" or "to come-to-pass" or "to come-into-being" depending on the context so as to communicate its meaning in English - therefore it is not always possible to translate it the same way for all usages. The basic meaning is that what the verb is referring to in a sentence was not this way prior to that time but it became this way.

Also, there are many places where the Greek words are written as "having answered saying" or "he answered and said" etc. This does not mean that the person answered first and then afterwards said something else. It is the way that the people spoke and wrote at that time; and it means that the person judicially replied to a question/statement made by someone else, or to a situation, by saying such-and-such.

[Reference: Genesis 22:16-18; I Samuel 2:10; Psalm 107:10-14, 132:17; Isaiah 9:1 and 2, 40:3; Matthew 3:3, 24:27; Mark 1:3 and 4; John 1:6-8 and 19-23; Acts 4:25; Ephesians 4:8. Also refer to the article Hope and Resurrection (http://www.truebiblestudy.com/Hope_Resurrection.htm). Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

Luke Chapter 2