46 And Mary said,
| My soul doth magnify the Lord [see 1 Sam. 2:1-10], | |
| 47 | And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. |
| 48 | For he hath looked upon the low estate of his 1handmaiden: |
| For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed [see 1 Sam 1:11]. | |
| 49 | For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; |
| And holy is his name [see 1 Sam. 2:2]. | |
| 50 | And his mercy is unto generations and generations |
| On them that fear him [see Ps. 103:17]. | |
| 51 | He hath shewed strength with his arm; |
| He hath scattered the proud 2in the imagination of their heart [see 1 Sam. 2:4; Ps. 89:10]. | |
| 52 | He hath put down princes from their thrones, |
| And hath exalted them of low degree [see Job 5:11; 12:19]. | |
| 53 | The hungry he hath filled with good things; |
| And the rich he hath sent empty away [see Ps. 107:9]. | |
| 54 | He hath holpen Israel his servant, |
| That he might remember mercy [see Isa. 41:8-9] | |
| 55 | (As he spake unto our fathers) |
| Toward Abraham and his seed for ever [see Gen. 17:7; Mic. 7:20]. |
56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.
1 Gr. bondmaiden.
2 Or, by.
57 Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66 And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
| 68 | Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; |
| For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people [see Ps. 72:18; 111:9], | |
| 69 | And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us |
| In the house of his servant David [see 1 Sam. 2:10; Ps. 18:3] | |
| 70 | (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began), |
| 71 | Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us [see Ps. 106:10]; |
| 72 | To shew mercy towards our fathers, |
| And to remember his holy covenant; | |
| 73 | The oath which he sware unto Abraham our father [see Gen. 17:7; Lev. 26:42; Ps. 105:8; Mic. 7:20], |
| 74 | To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies |
| Should serve him without fear, | |
| 75 | In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. |
| 76 | Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: |
| For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways [see Mal. 3:1]; | |
| 77 | To give knowledge of salvation unto his people |
| In the remission of their sins, | |
| 78 | Because of the 1tender mercy of our God, |
| 2Whereby the dayspring from on high 3shall visit us [see Mal. 4:2], | |
| 79 | To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; |
| To guide our feet into the way of peace [see Isa. 8:22; 9:2]. |
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.a
1 Or, heart of mercy.
2 Or, Wherein.
3 Many ancient authorities read hath visited us.
a Dwell on this summary statement as to John's retired life in the wild regions of Judea, whence he will come forth thirty years later.
18 Now the 1birth 2of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the 3Holy Ghost. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is 4conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
| 23 | Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son [see Isa. 7:14], |
| And they shall call his name 5Immanuel; |
which is, being interpreted, God with us. 24 And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; 25 and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.
1 Or, generation: as in ver. 1 in § 3.
2 Some ancient authorities read of the Christ.
3 Or, Holy Spirit.
4 Gr. begotten.
5 Gr. Emmanuel.
1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the 1world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.a 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
1 Gr. inhabited earth.
a Observe how the ruler of the civilized world is unconsciously bringing it about that the Messiah, the son of David, shall be born at Bethlehem, though his mother's home was Nazareth. All the previous history of Rome and of Israel gathers about this manger. As to Quirinius, and as to the probable time of the Saviour's birth, see note 6 at the end of the book. The vindication of Luke's historical statements in these verses is one of the triumphs of modern research, as is shown in that note.
8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping 1watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is 2Christ the Lord. 12 And this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praisinga God, and saying,
| 14 | Glory to God in the highest, |
| And on earth 3peace among 4men in whom he is well pleased. |
15 And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this 5thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these 6sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.
1 Or, night-watches.
2 Or, Anointed Lord.
3 Many ancient authorities read peace, good pleasure among men.
4 Gr. men of good pleasure.
5 Or, saying.
6 Or, things.
a The Gloria in Excelsis.
21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him [see Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3], his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) [see Ex. 13:2, 12, 15; Lev. 12:1-8], 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,a
| 29 | Now lettest thou thy 1servant depart, O 2Lord, |
| According to thy word, in peace; | |
| 30 | For mine eyes have seen thy salvation [see Isa. 52:10], |
| 31 | Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; |
| 32 | A light for 3revelation to the Gentiles, |
| And the glory of thy people Israel [see Isa. 42:6; 49:6]. |
33 And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him; 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; 35 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was 4of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even for fourscore and four years), which departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
1 Gr. bondservant.
2 Gr. Master.
3 Or, the unveiling of the Gentiles.
4 Gr. advanced in many days.
a The four New Testament psalms, given by Luke, breathe the atmosphere of Old Testament piety, quite in contrast to the formalism of the Pharisees and yet thoroughly Jewish in background and Christian in sentiment. But it is primitive Christian feeling. Section 7 gives the Magnificat of Mary in response to the song of Elisabeth in § 6. In § 8 we have the Benedictus of Zacharias and in § 13 The Nunc Dimittis of Simeon.
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, 1wise men from the east [see Num. 24:17] came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 2Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written 3by the prophet,
| 6 | And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, |
| Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: | |
| For out of thee shall come forth a governor [see Mic. 5:1-2], | |
| Which shall be shepherd of my people Israel. |
7 Then Herod privily called the 1wise men, and learned of them carefully 4what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. 9 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
1 Gr. Magi. Compare Esther 1:13; Dan. 2:12.
2 Or, Where is the King of the Jews that is born?
3 Or, through.
4 Or, the time of the star that appeared.
13 Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; 15 and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son [see Hos. 11:1]. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the 1wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully learned of the 1wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken 2by Jeremiah the prophet, saying [see Jer. 31:15],
| 18 | A voice was heard in Ramah, |
| Weeping and great mourning, | |
| Rachel weeping for her children; | |
| And she would not be comforted, because they are not. |
1 Gr. Magi.
2 Or, through.
| Matt. 2:19-23 | Luke 2:39 |
| 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, 23 and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken 1by the prophets,a that he should be called a Nazarene. |
39 And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. |
1 Or, through.
a Cf. Isa. 11:1 where the Messiah is called Netzer, a Branch, though Nazareth is not mentioned in the Old Testament.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, 1filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.a
1 Gr. becoming full of wisdom.
a This simple statement of Luke tells more in one sentence than all the apocryphal Gospels of the Infancy, with their silly legends about the miraculous prowess of the child Jesus.
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover [see Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:1-8]. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the 1doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said unto him, 2Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be 3in my Father's house? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
1 Or, teachers.
2 Gr. Child.
3 Or, about my Father's business.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these 1sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and 2stature, and in 3favour with God and men [see 1 Sam. 2:26].
1 Or, things.
2 Or, age.
3 Or, grace.
a After the return to Nazareth, we know nothing of Jesus' life at that place beyond the general statements of Luke 2:52, with the knowledge and dispositions indicated in the narrative of § 18 and the fact that he was a carpenter, until he comes forth to be baptized by John, his forerunner. The social and political conditions of this period in Galilee are described by Edersheim, D. Smith, and other writers on the Life of Jesus, and briefly stated in Broadus's Commentary on Matthew, p. 30 f. Dwell on the general statement of Luke 2:52. Other passages throw light on the life in Nazareth as to habits of worship (Luke 4:16), the family group of brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3 = Matt. 13:55 f.), work as carpenter (ibid.). A helpful book on this obscure period is Ramsay's The Education of Christ.
| Mark 1:1 | Luke 3:1-2 |
| 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 1the Son God. |
1 Now in the fifteenth ayear of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysaniasb tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. |
1 Some ancient authorities omit the son of God.
a See note 6 at end of Harmony.
b See note 6. Luke follows the custom of ancient historians in dating events by the names of the rulers. As the son of a priest John was probably thirty years old when he came forth.
| Mark 1:2-6 | Matt. 3:1-6 | Luke 3:3-6 |
| 2 Even as it is written 1in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face [see Mal. 3:1], Who shall prepare thy way; 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness [see Isa. 40:3], Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight; 4 John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the country of Judea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey. |
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,a 2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of 2by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. 4 Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan; 6 and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. |
3 And he came into all the region round about Jordan, preach- ing the baptism of repentance unto re- mission of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, And every moun- tain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God [see Isa. 40:4-5]. |
1 Some ancient authorities read in the prophets.
2 Or, through.
a See Mark 1:15 (= Matt. 4:17); Matt. 10:7; Acts 2:38.
| Matt. 3:7-10 | Luke 3:7-14 |
| 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of 1repentance: 9 and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And even now is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. |
7 He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of 1repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And even now is the axe also laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? 11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. 12 And there came also 2publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, 3Master, what must we do? 13 And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And 4soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither 5exact anything wrongfully; and be content with your wages. |
1 Or, your repentance.
2 That is, collectors or renters of Roman taxes.
3 Or, Teacher.
4 Gr. soldiers on service.
5 Or, accuse any one.
a Here we see Matthew and Luke preserving a non-Markan section, as so frequently hereafter, an example of the so-called Logia (Discourses).