Bible Study Series: Luke 1:11-20. Would you doubt God’s promise even if an angel delivered it?
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I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click here:
In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Luke 1:11-20
11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah looked and was disturbed, and fear came on him. 13 The angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall birth you a son, and you shall call his name ‘John.’
14 He shall be a joy and rejoicing for you, and many people shall rejoice at his birth,
15 for he shall be great before the Lord. And he shall not drink wine or alcohol, [Lev. 10:9; Num. 6:3; 1 Sam. 1:11, 41, 67] and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, still in his mother’s womb.
16 And he shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17 He shall be a forerunner before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, from disobedience to the thinking of the righteous, to prepare for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “According to what (standard) shall I know this? For I am old, and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 And the angel replied to him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent forth to speak to you and announce to you this good news. 20 Watch! You shall be mute and unable to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which shall be accomplished in their right time!”
Comments:
11:
Marshall: “The altar of incense … stood in the centre of the holy place (Yoma 33b …). Zechariah’s task was to place incense on the heated altar and then prostrate himself in prayer” (comment on v. 11).
“appeared”: the verb is used often in Luke-Acts for supernatural appearances: Luke 24:34; Acts 2:3; 7:2, 30, 35; 9:17; 13:31; 26:16. The fact that the verb is used often in the passive form indicates that this is another divine passive, which means God acts to ordain the supernatural appearing, like send an angel. Charismatics who claim they can go right up into heaven or see Jesus whenever they want do not understand Scripture. God decides.
“angel”: An angel, both in Hebrew and Greek, is really a messenger. Angels are created beings, while Jesus was the one who created all things, including angels (John 1:1-4). Renewalists believe that angels appear to people in their dreams or in person. It is God’s ongoing ministry through them to us.
Dreams and Visions: How to Interpret Them
That link filters out the human dreams and satanic ones.
Here is a multi-part study of angels in the area of systematic theology, but first, here is a summary list of the basics:
Angels:
(a) Are messengers (in Hebrew mal’ak and in Greek angelos);
(b) Are created spirit beings;
(c) Have a beginning at their creation (not eternal);
(d) Have a beginning, but they are immortal (deathless).
(e) Have moral judgment;
(f) Have a certain measure of free will;
(g) Have high intelligence;
(h) Do not have physical bodies;
(i) But can manifest with immortal bodies before humans;
(j) They can show the emotion of joy.
Angels: Their Duties and Missions
Angels: Their Names and Ranks and Heavenly Existence
Angels: Their Origins, Abilities, and Nature
Luke must have got the factoid about where Gabriel stood at the right side of the altar, from someone who heard the story from Zechariah himself. He was old at this stage, so no doubt he had died before Luke could interview him. So here we have an instance of the verb in v. 2 “handed on” or “passed on.” These stories were handed on from one generation to the next.
Once again:
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
12:
Zechariah responded as you or I would respond. The Greek literally says, “Fear fell upon him.” This is the opposite of the Spirit falling on anyone.
But let’s not criticize or look down on him. It is an awesome thing for an angel to appear. Many Renewalists treat it casually, without fear. Sometimes I wonder why it is so relaxed for them. I trust they are telling the truth in their stories of angelic appearances and not speaking from their imaginations. “They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord” (Jer. 23:18, NIV). But let’s not go negative entirely. Some people today really can see angels. (I’ve seen them in my dreams.)
Once again:
Dreams and Visions: How to Interpret Them
Those links will help you filter your experiences through the word.
13:
“don’t be afraid”: Reassuring words from the mighty angel.
Gabriel himself says that Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s prayer has been heard. “Prayer” or “plea” is singular, as if God bundled up all their prayers into one and answered it. The noun means “entreaty, supplication, prayer” (see Luke 2:37 and 5:33). Maybe the lesson is that God heard them the first time. However, there is nothing wrong with persistent prayer (Luke 18:1-8), but let’s not ask God as if we stand in weakness before him. We stand boldly now in the name of Jesus (John 16:23-24, 26; Heb. 4:16).
It was a done deal. God himself looked into the human future and said this birth shall happen. And his parents shall call him John.
A little systematic theology:
Theologians teach us that God sees all of eternity, every event, everything, in one simultaneous act. That is an amazing statement. All of eternity appears before him in one action, at one “time.” Nothing escapes his notice. Nothing catches him by surprise. This is called God’s omniscience. He sees all and knows all.
Do I Really Know God? He Is Omniscient
“prayer”: this word can be translated as petition. Morris points out that the verb tense is past, so Zechariah must have prayed while he burned the incense (comment on v. 13). He may have prayed for the redemption of Israel, but could he have included a prayer for a child?
In any case, it is a blessing when God answers the prayers of his people, particularly when they are infertile.
Healing Infertility in Genesis
14:
The words for joy and rejoicing accumulate in this short verse. Gabriel is an angel, and he and all the other angels celebrate when one sinner repents (Luke 15:10). Let’s not assume that heaven is always so serious. They know how to celebrate—and do celebrate. Here, however, the celebrations take place on earth at the birth of a boy, a specially called boy.
“It may be better to see John as having a unique position, neither Nazarite nor priest, though with points of connection with both. The most important thing is that from the very first John was to be filled with the Spirit, without whose help God’s work cannot be done effectively. John is the only person said in the New Testament to be filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb … (Morris, comment on vv. 14-17, emphasis original)
15:
Here is a background passage to Elizabeth’s story. Hannah also bore the shame of barrenness, until God answered her prayer and gave her a prophet.
10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Sam. 1:10-11, NIV)
John was going to be devoted to the Lord and become a significant prophet who was transitional between the OT and Jesus. Samuel helped the people transition between judges and kings (Saul and David).
He shall be great before the Lord. God has a plan for you and all your children. Let him work it out in his time and in his way. Be cautious about imposing your own “good” agenda on them or on yourself. Yours may be good, but not of God.
Though commentator Morris says John was in between a Nazarite or not one, let’s say he was going to be a Nazarite. See Num. 6 for more details than the ones offered here. One detail is that a Nazarite should not cut his hair. So John grew up with long hair, and apparently it got shaggy, if the movies are to be believed. Another detail is that the vow was typically temporary, but apparently God called John to be one from childhood, the beginning. Alternatively, he may not have been a Nazarite. His refusal to drink alcohol may be his way of showing total devotion to God. Lev. 10:9 says priests (Aaron and his sons, and Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron) should not drink alcohol, and John was a son of a priest, so he may have carried that devout practice forward.
Most importantly, John was going to be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. This means out of his mother’s womb he had already been filled with the Spirit. This speaks to the abortion issue. Babies can be filled with the Spirit, so they can grow up to accomplish all that God is about to lay out ahead of them. Please don’t abort them before God works out his plans for their lives.
What the Bible Really Says about Abortion and Prenatal Life
Spiritual Sonograms: God Loves You and Your Baby
“filled with the Holy Spirit”: In the OT, the Spirit came and left people as he willed (12 Sam. 10:10; 2 Kings 2:9-16). Here John would follow in the line of other prophets whose experience with the Spirit was strong (Is. 61:1; Ezek. 11:5; Joel 2:28). The point is that a prophet is here, and he is like the others who preceded him.
Baptized, Filled, and Full of the Spirit: What Does It All Mean?
16-17:
John was coming in the spirit and power of Elijah, which references Malachi 4:5-6. One sign that a revival is happening is that the parents and children can be reconciled. One must not overplay this aspect, however. When a choice has to be taken for the kingdom or the family—no third option is available—then one must always choose the kingdom first (Luke 9:57-62; 12:49-53). Muslims and sometimes Jews have to go through this, when they convert to Jesus the Lord. Girls may be “honor-killed.” Let’s pray that you do not have to choose between the two sides, and your family will support you.
“power”: it is the noun dunamis (or dynamis) (pronounced doo-na-mees or dee-na-mis, but most teachers prefer the first one). It is often translated as “power,” but also “miracle” or “miraculous power.” It means power in action, not static, but kinetic. It moves. Yes, we get our word dynamite from it, but God is never out of control, like dynamite is. Its purpose is to usher in the kingdom of God and repair and restore broken humanity, both in body and soul. For nearly all the references of that word and a developed theology, please click on Miracles, Signs and Wonders.
What Are Signs and Wonders and Miracles?
“turned” is another word for repentance. The Greek is epistrephō (pronounced eh-pea-streh-foh). And the streph– stem means “to turn.” One translator suggests “restore.” God wants to turn and restore your heart towards your family and towards the Lord. “This prediction does not simply refer to the creation of family harmony, but to an image of repentance and conversion” (Garland, comment on 1:15-17).
Note the word “turn”:
9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1 Thess. 1:9-10, NIV)
“in the thinking of the righteous”: this is what the Greek says. It takes the Holy Spirit, even from birth, to get people’s minds in tune with righteous people and with righteous thinking. If you were not dedicated to the Spirit at birth, God by his Spirit can speed up the process to get you to think righteously.
“Luke’s infancy narrative highlights an outbreak of the prophetic as each main character bursts forth with prophetic utterance and praise” (Garland, comment on 1:15-17).
Systematic and practical theology:
The Spirit’s Deity and Divine Attributes
The Spirit in the Life of Christ
The Spirit in the Church and Believers
18:
The Greek literally reads, “According to what shall I know this?” The wording indicates slight arrogance and unbelief. I added the word “standard” to communicate the skepticism. Zechariah was looking for a sign—but the problem was that the sign was standing right in front of him—Gabriel himself. The Gospel writers were hard on those who seek for a sign, when Jesus was performing signs all the time (Matt. 16:1; Mark 8:11; John 4:48; 20:24-29, esp. v. 29; compare 1 Cor. 1:22).
It is a pity and misdirected for translators to have Zechariah say, “How can I know this?” (or a variation of this). That’s not what the Greek says exactly. Rather, Zachariah and Elizabeth were older and for years had been praying for a child. They did not see any answer. Zechariah may have been jaded. He certainly did not rejoice at the announcement. He quickly got over his fear at his initial encounter with the angel and spouted off his skeptical question.
His attitude and words were far different from those of Mary (v. 34). She asked simply, “How can this be?” She was young and innocent and was curious as to how she could get pregnant when she never “knew” a man. She did not have many years of unanswered prayer behind her. She was not jaded. This is perfectly nuanced writing by Luke, which suits the characters in his story. “Unlike Mary, Zechariah will not trust the angel’s word until he receives a sign (see 11:26, 29). By contrast Mary asks in what way her pregnancy will happen, assuming it will happen. She trusts God before she is given a sign” (Garland, comment on 1:18)
“know”: Word Study: Knowledge
19:
Gabriel replies to Zechariah, based on the angel’s standing before God. “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God.” Then he announced his commissioning: God himself sent him forth. You can get your authority from God. He commissioned you in your own calling, tailor made for you (see 2 Cor. 5:16-21).
“I have been sent forth”: this is in the divine passive, telling us who sent John. God commissioned Gabriel.
“announces … good news”: Here the angel announced God’s plan for Zechariah and his son.
The three “I’s” of Zechariah are countered by the three “I’s” of Gabriel. Look for them. (Garland, comment on 1:19). Insightful.
20:
“Watch!”: This is an updated translation of the old “behold!” Some translators turn it into a mental activity: “Consider!” They may be right, but I like the warning aspect that one can see with one’s own eyes. It is the storyteller’s art to draw attention to the people and action that follows. “As you, my audience, sit and listen to me read this Gospel, look! A man will go mute!”
Professional grammarians say that when “look!” introduces a character, then he or she will play a major role in the pericope (pronounced peh-RIH-coh-pea) or section. Alternatively, when a verb follows “look!” then a significant act is about to take place and the person or people are less significant (and that’s what happens here). (Culy, Parsons, Stigall, p. 21).
In any case, this verse is God’s temporary disciplinary action on Zechariah’s unbelief and skepticism. The lesson here is that Zechariah spoke with his mouth words of skepticism and unbelief to a holy angel, so now his mouth will be shut. God’s discipline fit the man’s infraction. He sought for a sign, and the one he got was his own muteness! The irony is rich.
Zechariah’s silence must be seen above all as a “sign”—this is, as the proof he requested. On the face of it, the giving of a sign is not extraordinary in the biblical tradition; we may recall the signs given to Abraham (Gen 15:7-16), Moses (Exod 4:1-17), Gideon (Judg 6:36-40), Hezekiah (2 Kgs 20:1-11), and Ahaz (Isa 7:10-17). As in those instances, here the sign is given as a guarantee of God’s promise. The sign given Zechariah is more than certification; it is also punishment for his unbelief … (Green, p. 79).
“believe”: It means to “believe, be convinced of something.” In a more specific definition it goes in a direction: “to have faith in Christ or God” (Mounce p. 61). Believing (verb) and faith (noun) is very important to God. It is the language of heaven. We live on earth and by faith see the invisible world where God is. We must believe he exists; then we must exercise our faith to believe he loves us and intends to save us. We must have saving faith by trusting in Jesus and his finished work on the cross.
True acronym:
F-A-I-T-H
=
Forsaking All, I Trust Him.
Let’s discuss the verb believe and the noun faith more deeply. It is the language of the kingdom of God. It is how God expects us to relate to him. It is the opposite of doubt, which is manifested in whining and complaining and fear. Instead, faith is, first, a gift that God has distributed to everyone (Rom. 12:3). Second, it is directional (Rom. 10:9-11; Acts 20:21). We cannot rightly have faith in faith. It must be faith in God through Christ. Third, faith in Christ is different from faith in one’s ability to follow God on one’s own. It is different from keeping hundreds of religious laws and rules. This is one of Luke’s main themes in Acts, culminating in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and Paul’s ministry for the rest of Acts. Faith in Jesus over faith in law keeping. Fourth, there is faith as a set of beliefs and doctrines, which are built on Scripture (Acts 6:7). Fifth, there is also a surge of faith that is poured out and transmitted through the Spirit when people need it most (1 Cor. 12:9). It is one of the nine charismata or manifestations of grace (1 Cor 12:7-11). Sixth, one can build faith and starve doubt by feasting on Scripture and the words about Christ (Rom. 10:17).
Word Study on Faith and Faithfulness
In this context Zechariah did not believe a message from Gabriel himself. Go figure.
“in their right time”: the noun here is kairos (pronounced kye-ross or kay-ross and is used 85 times), which speaks more of a quality time than quantity. Here kairos means the right quality of time, when his son would be born. So now we know Zechariah was mute for at least nine months. But the more important point is that the timing is of the Lord, though Zechariah had something to do with it (if you know what I mean).
To conclude …..
David E. Garland has twelve contrasts between Zechariah and Mary at the birth announcements (pp. 84-85). Here is a summary:
1.. Zechariah and Elizabeth belong to a priestly line; Mary’s background is not stated, indicating her lowly status.
2.. The older couple are both blameless and righteous; Mary’s social qualities, though no doubt stellar, are not brought up, indicating she is the recipient of unmerited favor;
3.. Zechariah was in devout prayer and religious duties, who said many prayers; the angel visited Mary without her praying, so divine grace again.
5.. Zechariah is in Jerusalem, the holy city; Mary was in village of no fame;
6.. Elizabeth is beyond child-bearing age, but conception through a man will happen; Mary is a virgin, so human conception is impossible;
7.. To Zechariah the angel promised what happened in the OT: an older couple will conceive (e.g. Abraham and Sarah); Mary is promised a virginal concept that has never happened before.
8.. Zechariah asked for a sign, though the sign—the angel right in front of him—was sufficient, and the sign he received is silence; Mary received the sign of a blessing from Elizabeth.
9.. John is to be great before the Lord; Jesus is great in himself, without the qualifier;
10.. John’s mission will prepare the way, and then he shall fade out of the narrative; Jesus and his kingdom will live on forever;
11.. John will be filled with the Spirit even before his birth, yet the Spirit is prophetic; Jesus will be conceived by the Spirit and his power and is Son of the Most High;
12.. John the prophet will turn many in Israel to God; Jesus the Messianic king will rule forever over the house of Jacob.
Grow App for Luke 1:11-20
1. Study Luke 18:1-8. Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed a long time and saw no answer. How long have you ever prayed and not seen an answer?
2. Are you jaded against God and the things of the Spirit?
3. Gabriel said John would cause joy. Angels celebrate over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:19). What is your story about your salvation that caused angels to celebrate?
RELATED
11. Eyewitness Testimony in Luke’s Gospel
3. Church Fathers and Luke’s Gospel
2. Archaeology and the Synoptic Gospels
1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES
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