Luke 1:5-25

Luke 1:5-25

[5] There was  in  the days  of Herod,  the king  of Judaea,  a certain  priest  named  Zacharias,  of  the course  of Abia:  and  his  wife  was of  the daughters  of Aaron,  and  her  name  was Elisabeth.  [6] And  both  righteous  God,  walking  in  all  the commandments  and  ordinances  of the Lord  blameless.  [7] And  they  no  child,  because  that Elisabeth  barren,  and  they  both  now well stricken  in  years.  [8] And  it came to pass,  that while  he  executed the priest's office  before  God  in  the order  of his  course,  [9] According  to the custom  of the priest's office,  his lot  was to burn incense  when he went  into  the temple  of the Lord.  [10] And  the whole  multitude  of the people  praying  without  at the time  of incense.  [11] And  unto him  an angel  of the Lord  standing  on  the right side  of the altar  of incense.  [12] And  when Zacharias  him, he was troubled,  and  fear  fell  upon  him.  [13] But  the angel  said  unto  him,  Fear  not,  Zacharias:  for  prayer  is heard;  and  wife  Elisabeth  shall bear  a son,  and  thou shalt call  his  name  John.  [14] And  joy  and  gladness;  and  many  shall rejoice  at  his  [15] For  great  in the sight  of the Lord,  and  shall drink  wine  nor  strong drink;  and  he shall be filled  with the Holy  Ghost,  even  from  his  mother's  womb.  [16] And  many  of the children  of Israel  shall he turn  to  the Lord  their  God.  [17] And  he  shall go  before  him  in  the spirit  and  power  of Elias,  to turn  the hearts  of the fathers  to  the children,  and  the disobedient  to  the wisdom  of the just;  to make ready  a people  prepared  for the Lord.  [18] And  Zacharias  said  unto  the angel,  Whereby  shall I know  for  am  an old man,  and  wife  well stricken  in  years.  [19] And  the angel  answering  said  unto him,  am  Gabriel,  that stand  in the presence  of God;  and  am sent  to speak  unto  and  glad tidings.  [20] And,  behold,  shalt be dumb,  and  not  able  to speak,  until  the day  that  shall be performed,  because  thou believest  not  words,  which  shall be fulfilled  in  their  season.  [21] And  the people  for Zacharias,  and  marvelled  that  he  tarried so long  in  the temple.  [22] And  when he came out,  he could  not  speak  unto them:  and  they perceived  that  he had seen  a vision  in  the temple:  for  he  and  remained  speechless.  [23] And  it came to pass,  that, as soon as  the days  of his  ministration  were accomplished,  he departed  to  his own  house.  [24] And  after  days  his  wife  Elisabeth  conceived,  and  hid  herself  five  months,  saying,  [25] Thus  the Lord  dealt  in  the days  wherein  he looked on  me, to take away  reproach  among  men. 

What does Luke 1:5-25 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

There are striking parallels to this account in the Old Testament. Zechariah and Elizabeth were similar to Abraham and Sarah, to Jacob and Rachel, to Elkanah and Hannah, and to Samson"s parents. In each case there was a divine announcement of the birth of an unusual child.