Lucas 1

26 Now in the sixth month*Of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee named Natsareth,*For an explanation of this spelling, and its importance, please see the note at Matthew 2:23. 27 to a virgin betrothed*This involved a signed legal document, so much so that the couple were then called husband and wife, so ‘engaged’ (at least in contemporary society) is not an adequate rendering. to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house*See Luke 2:4. of David; the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 So upon entering where she was the angel said, "Rejoice, recipient of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"*To be the mother of the Messiah was a blessing granted to only one woman in the whole history of this world (see Genesis 3:15). Less than 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit ‘blessed are you among women’ (to be followed by NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). 29 But upon seeing him she was perplexed at his word and was trying to figure out what sort of greeting it might be.*In Zacharias the angel inspired fear, but Mary sensed immediately that the angel did not represent a menace or threat and concentrated on his astounding words. In typical female fashion, she was trying to figure out the hidden agenda.

Gabriel delivers

30 The angel said to her: "Do not be afraid,*He is not telling her not to be afraid of himself, because she wasn’t; I take it that he is telling her not to fear the future and the implications of his message. Mary, because you have found favor with God. 31 Now then, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS.*Although the angel presumably addressed Mary in Hebrew, when it came to pronouncing the name, he may well have used the Greek name as we know it. The precise sequence of sounds can be written and pronounced in Hebrew. 32 He will be great, and will be called ‘Son of the Most High’; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,*Through Mary, Jesus received some of David’s genes; David was literally His ancestor (see Mary’s genealogy in Luke 3:23-38). 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob*The ‘house of Jacob’ is not the Church, but the unending Kingdom will include much more than just that ‘house’. into the ages; indeed, of His kingdom there will be no end!"*This world will come to an end, but not Christ’s Kingdom. What the angel said to Mary was even more tremendous than what he said to Zacharias.

Mary agrees

34 So Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I do not know a man?"*Zacharias expressed doubt, but Mary simply requests some necessary information. She has understood that God wants her to be the Messiah’s mother—she was doubtless highly intelligent and perceptive. (In the Bible the verb ‘to know’ is used to refer to sexual intercourse.). 35 In answer the angel said to her: "Holy Spirit*The Text does not have a definite article with ‘Holy Spirit’. will come upon you and the power of the Most High will hover over you; precisely for this reason the holy One who is to be born will be called ‘Son of God’!*Literally so—the Holy Spirit supplied the genes that normally are supplied by a human father. 36 Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth, she has actually conceived a son in her old age and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 because any word spoken by God will be possible." 38 So Mary said: "Yes, I am the Lord’s slave! Let it happen to me according to your word."*Mary had to understand the proposal and be in full agreement, or she would not have been a good mother. And the angel departed from her.