The Jerusalem Bible (2006)

1Keďže sa už mnohí pokúsili po poriadku vyrozprávať udalosti, ktoré sa u nás stali, 2ako nám ich podali tí, čo ich od začiatku sami videli a stali sa sluhami Slova, 3aj ja som sa rozhodol, že ti to, vznešený Teofil, po dôkladnom preskúmaní všetkého, od počiatku verne rad-radom opíšem, 4aby si poznal spoľahlivosť učenia, do ktorého ťa zasvätili. 5Za čias judského kráľa Herodesa bol istý kňaz menom Zachariáš z Abiášovej kňazskej triedy. Jeho žena bola z dcér Áronových a volala sa Alžbeta. 6Obaja boli spravodliví a nábožní pred Bohom a bezúhonne zachovávali všetky Božie prikázania a ustanovenia. 7Nemali však deti, lebo Alžbeta bola neplodná a obaja boli v pokročilom veku. 8A stalo sa, keď Zachariáš konal kňazskú službu pred Bohom, lebo prišiel rad na jeho triedu, 9že podľa zvyku kňazského úradu lósom mu pripadlo vojsť do Pánovej svätyne a priniesť kadidlovú obetu. 10V čase kadidlovej obety sa vonku modlilo veľké množstvo ľudu. 11Tu sa mu zjavil Pánov anjel; stál na pravej strane kadidlového oltára. 12Keď ho Zachariáš videl, zarazil sa a zachvátil ho strach. 13Ale anjel mu povedal: "Neboj sa, Zachariáš, lebo tvoja modlitba bola vyslyšaná, tvoja manželka Alžbeta ti porodí syna a dáš mu meno Ján. 14Budeš sa radovať a plesať a jeho narodenie poteší mnohých. 15Lebo on bude veľký pred Pánom. Víno a opojný nápoj piť nebude a už v matkinom lone ho naplní Svätý Duch. 16Mnohých synov Izraela obráti k Pánovi, ich Bohu. 17Pôjde pred ním s Eliášovým duchom a mocou, aby zmieril otcov so synmi, aby obrátil neposlušných na cestu spravodlivých a pripravil Pánovi dokonalý ľud." 18Zachariáš povedal anjelovi: "Podľa čoho to poznám? Veď ja som starec a moja žena je v pokročilom veku." 19Anjel mu odpovedal: "Ja som Gabriel, stojím v službe pred Bohom a bol som poslaný hovoriť s tebou a oznámiť ti túto dobrú zvesť. 20Pozri, budeš nemý a nebudeš môcť hovoriť až do dňa, keď sa toto stane, lebo si neveril mojim slovám, ktoré sa splnia vo svojom čase." 21Ľud čakal na Zachariáša a divil sa, že sa tak dlho zdržuje vo svätyni. 22Ale keď vyšiel, nemohol k nim prehovoriť a oni pochopili, že mal vo svätyni videnie. Dával im znaky a zostal nemý. 23Len čo sa skončili dni jeho služby, vrátil sa domov. 24Po týchto dňoch jeho manželka Alžbeta počala, skrývala sa päť mesiacov a hovorila: 25"Toto je Pánovo dielo; teraz sa mu zapáčilo zbaviť ma hanby pred ľuďmi." 26V šiestom mesiaci poslal Boh anjela Gabriela do galilejského mesta, ktoré sa volalo Nazaret, 27k panne zasnúbenej mužovi z rodu Dávidovho, menom Jozefovi. A meno panny bolo Mária. 28Anjel prišiel k nej a povedal: "Raduj sa, milosti plná, Pán s tebou." 29Ona sa nad jeho slovami zarazila a rozmýšľala, čo znamená takýto pozdrav. 30Anjel jej povedal: "Neboj sa, Mária, našla si milosť u Boha. 31Počneš a porodíš syna a dáš mu meno Ježiš. 32On bude veľký a bude sa volať Syn Najvyššieho. Pán Boh mu dá trón jeho otca Dávida. 33Naveky bude kraľovať nad Jakubovým rodom a jeho kráľovstvu nebude konca." 34Ale Mária povedala anjelovi: "Ako sa to stane, veď ja muža nepoznám?" 35Anjel jej odpovedal: "Duch Svätý zostúpi na teba a moc Najvyššieho ťa zatieni. Preto aj toto dieťa bude sväté, bude to Syn Boží. 36Aj Alžbeta, tvoja príbuzná, počala syna v starobe. Už je v šiestom mesiaci. A hovorili o nej, že je neplodná! 37Lebo Bohu nič nie je nemožné." 38Mária odpovedala: "Tu som. Ja som slúžka Pána, nech sa mi stane podľa tvojho slova." A anjel od nej odišiel. 39V tých dňoch sa Mária vydala na cestu a ponáhľala sa do istého judského mesta v hornatom kraji. 40Vošla do Zachariášovho domu a pozdravila Alžbetu. 41Len čo Alžbeta začula Máriin pozdrav, dieťa v jej lone sa zachvelo a Alžbetu naplnil Duch Svätý. 42Vtedy zvolala veľkým hlasom: "Požehnaná si medzi ženami a požehnaný je plod tvojho života. 43Čím som si zaslúžila, že matka môjho Pána prichádza ku mne? 44Lebo len čo zaznel tvoj pozdrav v mojich ušiach, radosťou sa zachvelo dieťa v mojom lone. 45Áno, šťastná je tá, ktorá uverila, že sa splní, čo jej povedal Pán." 46Mária povedala: "Z celej duše zvelebujem Pána 47a môj duch plesá v Bohu, mojom Spasiteľovi, 48lebo zhliadol na svoju nepatrnú slúžku. Odteraz blahoslavenou ma budú volať všetky pokolenia, 49lebo veľké veci vykonal na mne Všemohúci. Sväté je jeho meno. 50Zmilúva sa nad bohabojnými z pokolenia na pokolenie. 51Mocne zasiahol svojou rukou, navnivoč obrátil ľudí pyšného zmýšľania. 52Mocnárov zosadil z trónu a povýšil ponížených. 53Hladných zahrnul svojimi darmi a bohatých prepustil naprázdno. 54Ujal sa svojho sluhu, Izraela, pamätajúc na svoju milosrdnú lásku 55voči Abrahámovi a jeho potomstvu, ako to navždy prisľúbil našim otcom." 56Mária zostala s Alžbetou asi tri mesiace, potom sa vrátila domov. 57Alžbete nadišiel čas pôrodu a porodila syna. 58Jej susedia a príbuzní počuli, že jej Pán prejavil svoje veľké milosrdenstvo, a radovali sa s ňou. 59Stalo sa na ôsmy deň, že prišli obrezať chlapca. Chceli mu dať meno Zachariáš po jeho otcovi. 60Ale jeho matka sa ujala slova a povedala: "Nie. Bude sa volať Ján." 61Povedali jej: "Veď v tvojom príbuzenstve sa nik takto nevolá." 62Dali znak otcovi, ako ho chce nazvať on. 63Vypýtal si tabuľku a napísal: "Jeho meno je Ján." A všetci sa divili. 64Hneď sa mu rozviazali ústa a jazyk i prehovoril a velebil Boha. 65Strach sa zmocnil všetkých ich susedov a všade po judských horách sa hovorilo o týchto udalostiach. 66Všetci, čo to počuli, vštepili si to do srdca a vraveli: "Čím len bude tento chlapec?" Vskutku ruka Pánova bola s ním. 67Jeho otca Zachariáša naplnil Svätý Duch a takto prorokoval: 68"Nech je zvelebený Pán, Boh Izraela, lebo navštívil svoj ľud a vykúpil ho. 69Vzbudil pre nás mocného Spasiteľa, z rodu Dávida, svojho sluhu, 70ako prisľúbil pred dávnymi vekmi ústami svojich svätých prorokov, 71že nás oslobodí od nepriateľov, z rúk tých, čo nás nenávidia. 72Prejavil milosrdenstvo našim otcom, pamätajúc na svoju svätú zmluvu, 73na prísahu, ktorou sa zaviazal nášmu otcovi Abrahámovi, 74že nás vyslobodí z rúk nepriateľov a dopraje nám bez obavy vzdávať mu úctu: 75sláviť bohoslužby a dokonale plniť prikázania po celý život v jeho prítomnosti. 76A ty, chlapček, budeš sa volať prorokom Najvyššieho, lebo pôjdeš pred Pánom pripraviť mu cesty 77a privádzať jeho ľud ku spáse poučovaním a odpúšťaním hriechov. 78Vďaka milosrdnej láske nášho Boha navštívi nás slnko z výsosti, 79aby osvietilo tých, čo žijú v tmách a v tieni smrti a priviedlo naše kroky na cestu pokoja a šťastia." 80Chlapec rástol a jeho duch mocnel. Žil na púšti až do dňa, keď verejne vystúpil pred Izrael.


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   Luke will not write of things about which Christians may safely differ from one another, and hesitate within themselves; but the things which are, and ought to be surely believed. The doctrine of Christ is what the wisest and best of men have ventured their souls upon with confidence and satisfaction. And the great events whereon our hopes depend, have been recorded by those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word, and who were perfected in their understanding of them through Divine inspiration.

 5   The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray, and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and bring an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who ever lives, making intercession. The prayers Zacharias often made, received an answer of peace. Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten. Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world, may be answered when we are old and going out of the world. Mercies are doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer. Zacharias shall have a son in his old age, who shall be instrumental in the conversion of many souls to God, and preparing them to receive the gospel of Christ. He shall go before Him with courage, zeal, holiness, and a mind dead to earthly interests and pleasures. The disobedient and rebellious would be brought back to the wisdom of their righteous forefathers, or rather, brought to attend to the wisdom of that Just One who was coming among them. Zacharias heard all that the angel said; but his unbelief spake. In striking him dumb, God dealt justly with him, because he had objected against God's word. We may admire the patience of God towards us. God dealt kindly with him, for thus he prevented his speaking any more distrustful, unbelieving words. Thus also God confirmed his faith. If by the rebukes we are under for our sin, we are brought to give the more credit to the word of God, we have no reason to complain. Even real believers are apt to dishonour God by unbelief; and their mouths are stopped in silence and confusion, when otherwise they would have been praising God with joy and gratitude. In God's gracious dealings with us we ought to observe his gracious regards to us. He has looked on us with compassion and favour, and therefore has thus dealt with us.

 26   We have here an account of the mother of our Lord; though we are not to pray to her, yet we ought to praise God for her. Christ must be born miraculously. The angel's address means only, Hail, thou that art the especially chosen and favoured of the Most High, to attain the honour Jewish mothers have so long desired. This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found favour with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. JESUS! the name that refreshes the fainting spirits of humbled sinners; sweet to speak and sweet to hear, Jesus, a Saviour! We know not his riches and our own poverty, therefore we run not to him; we perceive not that we are lost and perishing, therefore a Saviour is a word of little relish. Were we convinced of the huge mass of guilt that lies upon us, and the wrath that hangs over us for it, ready to fall upon us, it would be our continual thought, Is the Saviour mine? And that we might find him so, we should trample on all that hinders our way to him. Mary's reply to the angel was the language of faith and humble admiration, and she asked no sign for the confirming her faith. Without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh, 1Tim 3:16. Christ's human nature must be produced so, as it was fit that should be which was to be taken into union with the Divine nature. And we must, as Mary here, guide our desires by the word of God. In all conflicts, let us remember that with God nothing is impossible; and as we read and hear his promises, let us turn them into prayers, Behold the willing servant of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.

 39   It is very good for those who have the work of grace begun in their souls, to communicate one to another. On Mary's arrival, Elisabeth was conscious of the approach of her who was to be the mother of the great Redeemer. At the same time she was filled with the Holy Ghost, and under his influence declared that Mary and her expected child were most blessed and happy, as peculiarly honoured of and dear to the Most High God. Mary, animated by Elisabeth's address, and being also under the influence of the Holy Ghost, broke out into joy, admiration, and gratitude. She knew herself to be a sinner who needed a Saviour, and that she could no otherwise rejoice in God than as interested in his salvation through the promised Messiah. Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away.

 57   In these verses we have an account of the birth of John the Baptist, and the great joy among all the relations of the family. He shall be called Johanan, or Gracious, because he shall bring in the gospel of Christ, wherein God's grace shines most bright. Zacharias recovered his speech. Unbelief closed his mouth, and believing opened it again: he believers, therefore he speaks. When God opens our lips, our mouths must show forth his praise; and better be without speech, than not use it in praising God. It is said, The hand of the Lord was working with John. God has ways of working on children in their infancy, which we cannot account for. We should observe the dealings of God, and wait the event.

 67   Zacharias uttered a prophecy concerning the kingdom and salvation of the Messiah. The gospel brings light with it; in it the day dawns. In John the Baptist it began to break, and increased apace to the perfect day. The gospel is discovering; it shows that about which we were utterly in the dark; it is to give light to those that sit in darkness, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It is reviving; it brings light to those that sit in the shadow of death, as condemned prisoners in the dungeon. It is directing; it is to guide our feet in the way of peace, into that way which will bring us to peace at last, Roma 3:17. John gave proofs of strong faith, vigorous and holy affections, and of being above the fear and love of the world. Thus he ripened for usefulness; but he lived a retired life, till he came forward openly as the forerunner of the Messiah. Let us follow peace with all men, as well as seek peace with God and our own consciences. And if it be the will of God that we live unknown to the world, still let us diligently seek to grow strong in the grace of Jesus Christ.