11 Then
an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar
of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear
fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,
Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and
gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be
great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.
He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom
of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
And so it is that as Zacharias is performing this priestly duty offering up the Holy incense on the Golden Altar, that an angel of the Lord appears to him standing at the right side of the Altar. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled (gr. tαράσσω, which means to be greatly troubled, to experience “great emotional distress”) and fear fell upon him. Zacharias then was shocked by the angel’s presence as he was offering the holy incense. Something which he did not expect to happen, nor had he ever experienced before.
Vs. 13-17 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Therefore, the angel knowing that Zacharias is afraid first reassures him, saying to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (vs.13). Now along with telling Zacharias to name the child John, the angel tells him that not only will he have joy and gladness because of the child, but many people will rejoice at his birth (vs. 14). For the son born to him will grow into the man who will announce the coming of the Christ to God’s people. Therefore, the angel tells him that this child will be great in the sight of the Lord, for John will be set apart for the Lord and his purposes, therefore he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, for he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb (vs. 15). Therefore, the angel also announces that John will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (vs. 16). For he shall go before Him, that is the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (vs. 16-17). It is then an incredible declaration to this humble priest who in his old age will bear a son who will announce Christ’s Arrival. God then has remembered His people, and in remembering them He has also remembered his faithful servant Zacharias and his wife.
Commentary
Vs. 11-12 11 Then
an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar
of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear
fell upon him.And so it is that as Zacharias is performing this priestly duty offering up the Holy incense on the Golden Altar, that an angel of the Lord appears to him standing at the right side of the Altar. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled (gr. tαράσσω, which means to be greatly troubled, to experience “great emotional distress”) and fear fell upon him. Zacharias then was shocked by the angel’s presence as he was offering the holy incense. Something which he did not expect to happen, nor had he ever experienced before.
Vs. 13-17 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Therefore, the angel knowing that Zacharias is afraid first reassures him, saying to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (vs.13). Now along with telling Zacharias to name the child John, the angel tells him that not only will he have joy and gladness because of the child, but many people will rejoice at his birth (vs. 14). For the son born to him will grow into the man who will announce the coming of the Christ to God’s people. Therefore, the angel tells him that this child will be great in the sight of the Lord, for John will be set apart for the Lord and his purposes, therefore he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, for he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb (vs. 15). Therefore, the angel also announces that John will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (vs. 16). For he shall go before Him, that is the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (vs. 16-17). It is then an incredible declaration to this humble priest who in his old age will bear a son who will announce Christ’s Arrival. God then has remembered His people, and in remembering them He has also remembered his faithful servant Zacharias and his wife.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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