Luke 1:19, commentary and pictures

Gabriel identifies himself as the one who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to Zacharias and bring glad tidings. He appeared to Zacharias in the holy place before the golden altar while the incense with the prayers of Israel ascended, standing on the right side of the altar as a token of favor. The glad tidings were the birth of a son to Zacharias and Elizabeth who would go before the Lord to prepare His way, announcing that the period foretold to Daniel was ending and answering Zacharias's long prayers for the Messiah's advent. The word came with heaven's authority and certainty to be fulfilled in its season, but Zacharias doubted because of his and his wife's old age and forgot God's promise fulfilled to Abraham and Sarah, so he was struck dumb until the day of fulfillment and unable to bless the waiting congregation, with his speech restored at John's birth and the whole event recalled when John's ministry later stirred the people. Gabriel holds a position of high honor in heaven as a messenger chosen to reveal God's purposes to humanity, while those who held the differing teaching taught from the verse that he is the Holy Ghost, distinct from the Spirit of God, which is Christ.

Setting and Announcement

The speaker answering Zacharias is Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak to him and to bring glad tidings. He declares his name and standing when Zacharias questions how the promise of a son can come true, and his coming from God gives the message divine authority and certainty. He is the same Gabriel who had given Daniel the prophecy of the period leading to Christ's coming.

He appears to Zacharias in the temple, in the holy place of the sanctuary before the golden altar, while the cloud of incense with the prayers of Israel ascends before God. Zacharias is at that time praying for the people, and Gabriel stands on the right side of the altar as an indication of favor. Zacharias knows the prophetic period is ending, and this moves him to pray for the Messiah's advent. His prayers offered for many years for the coming of the Redeemer are about to be answered in this visitation.

The glad tidings sent by God are the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias and Elizabeth. Their son is to go before the Lord to prepare His ways, as the Messiah's herald preparing the way of the Lord.

Authority, Doubt and Remembrance

Gabriel holds a position of high honor in heaven, standing in God's presence, and he is a heavenly messenger chosen to reveal God's purposes to sinful humanity. His announcement to Zacharias came as a divine mission from God, carrying heaven's authority and certainty, so that its words would be fulfilled in their season.

Zacharias doubted because he was an old man and his wife was well stricken in years, treating the promise of a son as an impossibility. He asked how he could know it would come true, finding God's mercy too great to credit, taking no note of the favor shown him, and he was filled with fear and self-condemnation. His doubt came from failing to remember that God had fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah despite their old age.

That unbelief brought temporary dumbness until the day of fulfillment. He was left unable to speak or to pronounce the usual benediction when he came out to the waiting congregation. The sudden loss of speech confirmed the angel's authority and the truth of the prediction, and made Zacharias realize the message was true.

His speech was restored at John's birth. The angel's appearance in the temple, the loss of speech when he did not believe, its restoration, and Zacharias's revelation and prophecy were largely forgotten over the next thirty years. They were remembered and recalled when John later appeared as a prophet, and his ministry and preaching announcing the Messiah stirred the people.

The verse is also used to identify Gabriel as the Holy Ghost, distinct from the Spirit of God, which is Christ.