In the Text, the Dash [-] is used to mark a break or transposition in the order of the verses; and, also, to denote a break or division in single verses.

In the Notes, the work of Josephus on the Jewish Wars is quoted by the initials of its Latin title, viz. B. J. for de Bello Judaico.

PART I.

EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF OUR LORD

TIME: About thirteen and a half years.

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§ 1. Preface to Luke's Gospel.

LUKE I. 1-4.

ORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a dec laration of those things which are most surely believed among us, ' even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye-wit3 nesses, and ministers of the word; ' it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee 4 in order, most excellent Theophilus,' that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.

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§ 2. An Angel appears to Zacharias. - JERUSALEM.

LUKE I. 5-25.

There was in the days of Herod the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters 6 of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord 7 blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren; 8 and they both were well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense 10 when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without, at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the 12 altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy

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LUKE I.

prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou 14 shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and 15 many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled 16 with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make 18 ready a people prepared for the Lord." And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to 20 shew thee these glad tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

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And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so 22 long in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he 23 beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

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And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five 25 months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

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3. An Angel appears to Mary. — NAZARETH.

LUKE I. 26-38.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city 27 of Galilee, named Nazareth,' to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 29 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou highly favoured, the 29 Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: 31 for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in 32 thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord 33 God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was 38 called barren: for with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

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a 17. Comp Mal. 4, 5. 6.

33. Comp. Mic. 4, 7.

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42

LUKE I. 39-56.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill-country with haste, 40 into a city of Juda,' and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted 41 Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed art 43 thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is 44 this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in 45 my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46 47

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath 48 rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me 49 blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is 50 his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to 51 generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the 52 proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty 53 from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hun54 gry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath 55 holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;' as he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed, for ever.a

56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

§ 5. Birth of John the Baptist. — Juttah.

LUKE I. 57-80.

57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she 58 brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the 60 child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And 61 his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 63 And he asked for a writing-table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. 64 And they marvelled all.' And his mouth was opened immediately, and his 65 tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad 66 throughout all the hill-country of Judea. And all they that heard them, laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be ! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

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And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, 6.3 saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeem9ed his people,' and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, in the house "O of his servant David: as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which

a 54, 55. Comp. Is. 41, 8, 9. Gen. 22, 16 sq.