Luke 1

Luke 1:1

A many,] it is likely that he meanes the holy and true Evangelists, and not the other false ones. The meaning is, seeing that Gods providence would raise up diverse writers of the Gospell. I also moved by the same Spirit do freely undertake the same worke.

Luke 1:2

Of he word,] namely, of the Gospell, or of Christ himselfe called the word, Iohn 1. 1.

Luke 1:3

To me,] by divine inspiration. See Acts 15:19; Acts 15:25; Acts 28:1 〈◊〉. 40. Theophilus,] a noted personage in the Church, in those dayes, Acts 1:1.

Luke 1:5

Of the course,] the Priests being divided in severall courses or turnes to do their ministery in the Temple by week 1 Chronicles 24:3. 〈◊〉 12. 1. 12 Of the daughters,]namely of their descent or lineage.

Luke 1:6

Before God,] in truth and sincerity of conscience, answerable to God, and to his Judgement, and not in shew towards men onely.

Luke 1:9

His lot,] this manner of distributing the particular services in the Temple, is not specified in Scripture, and therefore is thought to be brought in by tradition. Now that which is said Exodus 30:7. that it belonged to Aaron to burne incense, ought also to be understood of all his children, 1 Chronicles 6:49.

Luke 1:10

Without,] namely in the peoples Court.

Luke 1:13

Thy prayer,] which he had made long before for to obtaine children. For it is not likely that he sought it at that time, being both past age. See v. 18. 25 Iehn,] that is to say, favour or grace of the Lord, to shew not onely the abundant favour and grace of the Lord upon his person, but also the ministery of Gods grace in Christ, for which he was ordained.

Luke 1:15

In the sight,] that is to say in his service, and in his esteeme: which is opposite to Iohns meannesse according to the worlds esteeme Neither wine,] beeing consecrated to God as a Nazarite. Numbers 6:3 Shall be filled,] that is to say he shall be abundantly endowed with the gifts of the holy Ghost befitting his vocation.

Luke 1:16

Shall he turne,] that is to say, he shall be an instrument of their conversion, by his preaching accompanied with Gods power, Acts 26:18. Iames 5. 19. 20.

Luke 1:17

Before him,] namely, before the Messias, who is the true God of Israel, as it is cleere by this passage In the Spirit,] that is to say, adorned in his person, and acompanied in his ministery by the miraculous power of Gods Spirit, as Elias was, and for the same ends The disobedient,] this is added for the explication of the words of Mal 4:5-6. to shew that the childrens going astray from their fathers wayes which Malachy speakes of was nothing but their disobedience and rebellion; and their going astray from the wisdome and justice of their good forefathers.

Luke 1:19

That stand,] as his minister and messenger.

Luke 1:20

Thou shalt be,] a miraculous signe to confirme the foresaid things: and withall for a punishment of his incredulity. See Ezek. 3. 26. & 24. 27 Because thou,] hence it appeares that Zecharias his request, v. 18. did not proceed from a pure and humble desire of being confirmed in Gods promise, as Mies was, v, 34 but from a vicious diffidency.

Luke 1:23

As the dayes,] which were a whole weeke 1 Chronicles 9:25.

Luke 1:24

Hid her selfe,] untill the miracle came to be certaine, because she might not expose her selfe to the scorne of men, which might have moved her faith, and have redounded to the contempt of God.

Luke 1:25

Thus hath,] words of admiration and joy after she was certain of her conception My reproach] because that barrennesse was accounted a dishonourable thing amongst Gods people, Genesis 30:23. as a kinde of curse of God, or defect of nature.

Luke 1:26

Sixth moneth,] after Elizabeth had conceaved.

Luke 1:28

Favoured,] who art excepted of at Gods hands, and hast received this singular favour, as to be esteemed worthy of this Soveraigne honour to be the Mother of the Messias.

Luke 1:32

Shall be called,] that is to say, shall be acknowledged to be the true everlasting and essentiall Sonne of God, though manifested in the flesh, which he taketh from thee, and that by reason of the union of the two natures The throne,] that is to say, the spirituall kingdome of the Church, of which Davids temporall kingdome was a figure.

Luke 1:34

How shall,] a question out of pure admiration, and a desire to be instructed in a truth needfull to be knowne, and not to be apprehended by mans understanding.Seeing,] the Virgin speaketh thus, because that the Angell had spoken to her of Christs conception, as of a thing which should shortly come to passe: and the marriage betweene Ioseph and her might be deferred for a time, as it appeareth by Matthew 1:18.

Luke 1:35

Overshadow thee,] a figurative kinde of speech, to signifie the secret power of the holy Ghost in this worke; taken most likely from thence that God did anciently appeare wrapped up in a Cloud and mist, 1 Kings 8:12 Therefore,] that is to say, this supernaturall conception, and sanctification of Christs humanity, shall cause the glorious name of Sonne of God, which did from all eternity essentially belong unto his Godhead, to be also fitly attributed to him in regard of his humanity, by reason of the correspondency of it in perfect holinesse and other vertues.

Luke 1:36

With her,] of her being with childe.

Luke 1:39

The hill countrey,] it was a part of the land of Iudah. See Iosh. 15. 48 Into a Citie,] namely Hebron, a City appointed for the Priests, such as Zacharias was, in the same countrey of Iudah. See Iosh. 21. 11.

Luke 1:41

Leaped,] for a signe of this new power, and motion of the holy Ghost, that did at that instant seaze upon the mother by Propheticall inspiration. Or to shew the secret and miraculous correspondency which was between Christ and Iohn, and Iohns joy at Christs comming Was filled,] that is to say, was inspired and fully enlightened by the h. Ghost in the knowledge and mistery of the incarnation of the Sonne of God; and in the knowledge of such things as had hapned to Marie, though absent and farre off.

Luke 1:45

That beleeveth,] for Mary by faith, which is also a gift of God in her, had made her selfe capable of this miraculous grace: as that vertue was necessary in all miracles.

Luke 1:48

Hath regarded,] that is to say, hath taken pity upon the wretched condition and estate that I the daughter of David was brought into, and hath not disdained my poverty, but hath been pleased to chuse me for a vessell of his grace in this great work. See Psal. 113. 56. and 138. 6.

Luke 1:51

He hath,] a prophecie of the establishment of Christs kingdome, to the overthrowing of all the counsels and endeavours of Gods enemies In the,] the Italian, By the,] as Psal. 34. 22. and 94. 23. Or those who are proud in the imagination of their hearts. See Iob 5. 12.

Luke 1:54

Hath holpen,] or hath taken into his protection, or hath raised up.

Luke 1:55

As he spake,] that is to say, as he promised.

Luke 1:59

They came,] namely, into the place of prayer, or into the Synagogue, according to the custome; or, into the private house with an assembly of people.

Luke 1:60

Not so,] it is likely that Zacharias had given Elizabeth notice, by writing of the name which was appointed by the Angell. v. 13.

Luke 1:66

The hand,] that is to say, Gods apparant favour and protection, was with him, and there appeared in him an extraordinary divine vertue and operation.

Luke 1:67

Prophecied,] that is to say, he spake by divine inspiration of the misteries of the Churches salvation, which as yet were not fully revealed.

Luke 1:68

Visited,] that is to say, he hath in effect showne the care he hath of them.

Luke 1:69

Raised up,] he hath given the Church cause to triumph, by reason of the spirituall victory which the Messias hath had over all his enemies. See concerning this manner of speech, 1 Samuel 2:1. Psa. 75. 4. and 89. 17.

Luke 1:76

Shall be called,] thou shalt not onely be so indeed, but shalt be acknowledged to be such by publike testimony.

Luke 1:78

Day spring,] namely, Iesus Christ the true Sonne of righteousnesse, Malachi 4:2.

Luke 1:79

Of peace,] of perfect happinesse.

Luke 1:80

In Spirit,] namely in the gifts and graces of the holy Ghost, which proportionably to his age manifested themselves to be in him, & wrought daily more powerfully and maturely in him Of his shewing,] that he began to exercise his office by Gods expresse command.