Luke 1 explained: Two Promised Births Announced

Why Luke writes (vv. 1-4)

Luke says others have already written about Jesus, and he has carefully traced everything back to people who saw it firsthand. He writes an orderly account for Theophilus, addressed with a title used for officials, though we don't know who he was.

A priest promised a son (vv. 5-25)

Zechariah and Elizabeth are faithful, old and childless, which then brought public shame, and while Zechariah burns incense in the temple, a rare honor chosen by lot, the angel Gabriel promises them a son named John. John will turn people back to God like the old prophet Elijah, but Zechariah asks for proof and is left unable to speak until it happens.

Mary hears about Jesus (vv. 26-38)

Gabriel tells Mary, a young woman engaged to Joseph from King David's family line, that she will have a son who will rule on David's throne forever, echoing old promises of a lasting king. When she asks how, since she is a virgin, the angel says God's Spirit will bring it about, and she accepts.

Two mothers meet (vv. 39-45)

When Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, Elizabeth's unborn baby leaps, and she calls Mary the mother of her Lord. Luke presents John as recognizing Jesus even before either is born.

Mary's song (vv. 46-56)

Mary praises God for noticing someone as lowly as her, in words close to Hannah's song in 1 Samuel 2. She pictures God bringing down the proud and powerful, feeding the hungry, and keeping his promise to Abraham's people.

John is born and named (vv. 57-80)

At the circumcision on the eighth day, the sign of belonging to God's people, Zechariah writes that the baby's name is John, and his speech returns. His song praises God for raising a savior from David's family and says John will prepare the way for a rising sun from heaven that will shine on people in darkness, a light Christians read as Jesus.

Key verse: Luke 1:37

Where Christians differ

Christians agree Mary is honored in this chapter but differ on how much, with Catholic and Orthodox traditions giving her a special ongoing role and many Protestants seeing her mainly as a model of faith.

Something to think about

Zechariah asked for proof and Mary asked how it could happen; what makes a claim that seems hard to believe feel trustworthy or untrustworthy to you?