Luke 1:5-25 Historical Notes

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Historical Notes

- No birth in history was ever heralded by angels and manifestations.

- The angel Gabriel announced the coming of the Messiah to 3 different people, Zacharias, Mary and Joseph. Gabriel (Gavri'El) was one of the two angels mentioned by name in the Bible, the other is Michael (Mikha'El).

- The announcement of John the Baptist to Zacharias took place in the days of Herod the Great who died in 4 B.C. Herod was a terror to the Jews and a monster of crime and severely oppressive.

- By this time the religious ceremonies in the Temple were merely outward form and pure ritual.

- There were certain devoted people who were spiritually sensitive and were "waiting for the consolation of Israel" and praying for his appearance.

- Zacharias (Z'kharyah) was in old age and he and his wife Elizabeth (Elisheva) were both descendants of Aaron the ancient high priest. They were among those who truly observed the ceremonies and God's laws and were hoping in the coming of the Messiah. 

- According to the Jews it was a sign of God's displeasure to be barren and a reproach. 

- Two times per year Zacharias would come to Jerusalem from his home in the hills to serve in the Temple for one week. 

- The priesthood was very well organized after the Babylonian exile. By the first century there were 20,000 priests divided into 24 courses. Zacharias belonged to that of Abijah which was the 8th. Each course would perform duty for 8 days, all joining in on the Sabbath. Their duties would be determined by the drawing of the white stone "lot." 

- The offering of incense was considered the highest duty of a priest and could only be performed once in a lifetime. The lot had fallen on Zacharias.

- The time of the morning sacrifice was 9 AM. 

- The huge Temple gates would be opened, three silver trumpet blasts from priests on the pinnacle of the Temple would summon the people to a spirit of worship and reverence as the ceremonies commenced. 

- The altar would be reverently cleaned by one priest and the live coals would be taken from the burnt offering on the altar by another. 

- Zacharias would then bring the golden censer and enter the Holy Place, which was lit only by the seven-branched Menorah. On his left was the Table of the Shewbread and in front of him was the Golden Altar of Incense and finally the Great Veil which separated man from the Holy of Holies. 

- As Zacharias entered the people outside would be prostrate and in silent worship. Zacharias would await the kindling of the incense on the Golden Altar and he would then bow his head in worship and then begin to withdraw in reverence.  

- It was at that moment, which was the utmost hour of every work performed in his priestly life, the angel Gabriel appeared.

- Gabriel appeared on the "right side" of the altar. In Jewish tradition the angel was invisibly present on the left side of the altar (throne of glory) and God Himself was invisibly present on the right side. Zacharias was terrified at this sight for "no man can see God and live." 

- Zacharias had long been praying for a son and his prayer was being answered. John (Yochanan) means "The Lord is Gracious."

- John would bring a great revival among the Jews and prepare (Isaiah 40:3-5) them for the coming of the Messiah (Mal. 3:1). 

- to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children" is reminiscent of the Messianic passage in the Old Testament Micah 7:6. The Talmud reveals ancient Jewish tradition and states "In the generation when Messiah comes, young men will insult the old, and old men will stand before the young (to give them honor); daughters will rise up against their mothers, and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law. The people will be dog-faced, and a son will not be abashed in his fathers presence." - Sanhedrin 97a

- The punishment of dumbness for his doubt would actually turn into a blessing because his faith would be strengthened. 

- When Zacharias remained within the Holy Place much longer than the prescribed time the people outside were convinced that he had seen a vision and also because he could not speak.

- Elizabeth repeats the words of Rachel in the Old Testament, who was also barren. He has "taken away my reproach among people." (Gen 30:22-23).

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Picture Study Bible - Luke 1

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