Luk 1:13-17 | RWP | e4.org | Is heard ( εισηκουσθη ). First aorist passive indicative. A sort of timeless aorist, "was heard" when made, and so "is heard" now. Probably the prayer was for a son in spite of the great age of Elisabeth, though the Messianic redemption is possible also. John ( Ιωανην ). The word means that God is gracious. The mention of the name should have helped Zacharias to believe. The message of the angel (verses ) takes on a metrical form when turned into Hebrew (Ragg) and it is a prose poem in Greek and English like , , , , ; , , , . Certainly Luke has preserved the earliest Christian hymns in their oldest sources. He is the first critic of the sources of the Gospels and a scholarly one.

‏ Luke 1:13-17

Is heard ( εισηκουσθη ). First aorist passive indicative. A sort of timeless aorist, "was heard" when made, and so "is heard" now. Probably the prayer was for a son in spite of the great age of Elisabeth, though the Messianic redemption is possible also.

John ( Ιωανην ). The word means that God is gracious. The mention of the name should have helped Zacharias to believe. The message of the angel (verses 13-17) takes on a metrical form when turned into Hebrew (Ragg) and it is a prose poem in Greek and English like 1:30-33, 35-37, 42-45, 46-55, 68-70; 2:10-12, 14, 29-32, 34-35. Certainly Luke has preserved the earliest Christian hymns in their oldest sources. He is the first critic of the sources of the Gospels and a scholarly one.

Gladness ( αγαλλιασις ). Only in the LXX and N.T. so far as known. A word for extreme exultation.

Rejoice ( χαρησοντα ). Second future passive indicative. The coming of a prophet will indeed be an occasion for rejoicing.

Strong drink ( σικερα ). A Hebrew word transliterated into Greek, an intoxicating drink. Here only in the N.T. John was to be a personal "dry" or Nazarite (Nu 6:3).

Shall not drink ( ου μη πιη ). Strong prohibition, double negative and second aorist subjunctive.

The Holy Ghost ( πνευματος αγιου ). The Holy Spirit in contrast to the physical excitement of strong drink (Plummer). Luke uses this phrase 53 times, 12 in the Gospel, Mark and John 4 each, Matthew 5 times.

Even from his mother's womb ( ετ εκ κοιλιας μητρος αυτου ). A manifest Hebraism. Cf. verse 41.

Before his face ( ενωπιον αυτου ). Not in the ancient Greek, but common in the papyri as in LXX and N.T. It is a vernacular Koine word, adverb used as preposition from adjective ενωπιος, and that from ο εν ωπ ων (the one who is in sight).

Autou here seems to be "the Lord their God" in verse 16 since the Messiah has not yet been mentioned, though he was to be actually the Forerunner of the Messiah.

In the spirit and power of Elijah ( εν πνευματ κα δυναμε Ελεια ). See Isa 40:1-11; Mal 3:1-5. John will deny that he is actually Elijah in person, as they expected (Joh 1:21), but Jesus will call him Elijah in spirit (Mr 9:12; Mt 17:12).

Hearts of fathers ( καρδιας πατερων ). Paternal love had died out. This is one of the first results of conversion, the revival of love in the home.

Wisdom ( φρονησε ). Not σοφια, but a word for practical intelligence.

Prepared ( κατεσκευασμενον ). Perfect passive participle, state of readiness for Christ. This John did. This is a marvellous forecast of the character and career of John the Baptist, one that should have caught the faith of Zacharias.