Luke 1:26-38  Historical Notes

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Historical Notes

- This event is commonly referred to as "The Annunciation."

- Verse 35 reveals the nature of the incarnation and makes this section highly important. It means that the human nature of Christ (absolutely holy) would be produced in the womb of the virgin Mary by a creative act of God the Holy Spirit. (also see Matt 1:18-20).

- The word "overshadowed" is translated in the Greek Septuagint from the same word as when the Lord's glory appeared in the Tabernacle and "overshadowed" it. It means that the eternal Son of God (the Most High) united Himself with the miraculously generated human nature in the womb of the virgin resulting in "the holy One" the God-Man, both deity and humanity united for the redemption of fallen man.

- Therefore His name was to be "Jesus" (Yahweh has become our salvation) because we could not save ourselves.

- The Messiah had to be born from the house of David according to the ancient prophets.

- David reigned in Jerusalem 1000 years earlier and since then there were literally thousands who were of Davidic decent, especially within the ruling families around Jerusalem. To think that the Lord chose this humble woman from a poor family living in an obscure village of the distant hills of Galilee to give birth to His Son. 

- Mary was indeed "the virgin" of Isaiah's prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). Isaiah foretold that the Messiah would be both a "child born" (human) and "a Son given" (divine). 

- The story is told by Luke who, according to the custom of a Greek historian, no doubt received the account from an eyewitness, probably Mary herself.

- The setting of this scene was the humble little town of Nazareth, tucked away in the hills of Galilee, overlooking the fertile cultivated, and densely populated plain of Esdraelon to the South. The location of many of the acts of Israel's history.

- The angelic visit this time was not in the great Temple in Jerusalem, as with Zacharias, but in the quiet seclusion of a humble home; not to a priest appareled in his sacerdotal vesture, but to a humble young woman. According to Jewish tradition she was charming, beautiful girl, just eighteen years of age, and the daughter of poor parents.

- Joseph and Mary were both were of royal lineage, the house of David.

- The salutation of the angel Gabriel, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with thee!" has been made the basis of pagan misinterpretation constituting Mary as a fountain of grace to be dispensed to others by her. "Hail, Mary! Thou art full of grace." She was highly favored above all women in being permitted to be the mother of the Lord and Saviour. But the Gospel narratives attribute to her none of the special titles ascribed to her by later so-called Christianity. The worship of Mary is not warranted by the simple salutation of the angel here recorded. The "Aye Maria," which is the daily prayer of millions has no basis in the gospels. Much as we may admire and honor the "Virgin-Mother," we may not pray to her or worship her in any way. Mariolatry is but one form of idolatry. The mother merits honor but her Son our worship.

- Mary did not doubt as Zacharias, but was only perplexed as to how this could be. She expressed her astonishment and humbly asked for an explanation.

- There is no ground for the doctrine of perpetual virginity in this verb know (v 34). Mary simply meant that she was not married yet to Joseph her betrothed husband.

- Elizabeth had conceived 6 months earlier

- Verses 32 and 33 refer to an event that has not yet been fulfilled, and will be realized at the second coming of Christ (Dan 7:27; Isaiah 9:6-7).

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Picture Study Bible - Luke 1

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