Luke 1:66
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And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
hand of the Lord was with him--by special tokens marking him out as one destined to some great work (Kg1 18:46; Kg2 3:15; Act 11:21).
Open source ↗The narrative which this evangelist gives us (or rather God by him) of the life of Christ begins earlier than either Matthew or Mark. We have reason to thank God for them all, as we have for all the gifts and graces of Christ's ministers, which in one make up what is wanting in the other, while all put together make a harmony. In this chapter we have, I. Luke's preface to his gospel, or his epistle dedicatory to his friend Theophilus (Luk 1:1-4). II. The prophecy and history of the conception of John Baptist, who was Christ's forerunner (v. 5-25). The annunciation of the virgin Mary, or the notice given to her that she should be the mother of the Messiah (Luk 1:26-38). IV. The interview between Mary the mother of Jesus and Elisabeth the mother of John, when they were both with child of those pregnant births, and the prophecies they both uttered upon that occasion (v. 39-56). V. The birth and circumcision of John Baptist, six months before the birth of Christ (Luk 1:57-66). VI. Zacharias's song of praise, in thankfulness for the birth of John, and in prospect of the birth of Jesus (Luk 1:67-79). VII. A short account of John Baptist's infancy (Luk 1:80). And these do more than give us an entertaining narrative; they will lead us into the understanding of the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
Open source ↗1:66 the hand of the Lord: This anthropomorphism (describing God with human characteristics, cp. 1:51) meant that God was at work in John’s life.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
My hand will sustain him; surely My arm will strengthen him.
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.
And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
And the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah, and he tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.