And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
The phrase after those days places the conception after the events connected with Zacharias carrying out his service in the temple. The term days denotes complete periods of twenty-four hours, not merely the daylight portion. After those days Elisabeth conceived John and remained out of public view for five months, speaking the words recorded immediately afterward.
The verse opens the sequence that leads six months later to Gabriel being sent from God to Mary at Nazareth to announce that she would conceive Jesus. Elisabeth's pregnancy in her old age, then in its sixth month, was presented to Mary as evidence that nothing God speaks lacks power, after which Mary went to visit Elisabeth. The child conceived is the forerunner who prepares the Lord's ways, announces salvation through forgiveness made possible by God's merciful visitation, brings light to those in darkness and the shadow of death, and guides feet into peace.
The child grew and became strong in spirit and remained in desert places until the time of his public manifestation to Israel, around the time Christ was born. The verse belongs to the history of Christ's birth that fulfills the prediction that a child would be born on behalf of humanity. That history, from his birth to his resurrection, demonstrates that Christ was a real human being. The same birth account shows that he was conceived by the power of the Highest and was born to Mary at Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of Augustus Caesar.
The phrase after those days places the conception after the events connected with Zacharias carrying out his service in the temple. The term days denotes complete periods of twenty-four hours, not merely the daylight portion. After those days Elisabeth conceived John and remained out of public view for five months, speaking the words recorded immediately afterward.
The verse opens the sequence that leads six months later to Gabriel being sent from God to Mary at Nazareth to announce that she would conceive Jesus. Elisabeth's pregnancy in her old age, then in its sixth month, was presented to Mary as evidence that nothing God speaks lacks power, after which Mary went to visit Elisabeth. The child conceived is the forerunner who prepares the Lord's ways, announces salvation through forgiveness made possible by God's merciful visitation, brings light to those in darkness and the shadow of death, and guides feet into peace.
The child grew and became strong in spirit and remained in desert places until the time of his public manifestation to Israel, around the time Christ was born. The verse belongs to the history of Christ's birth that fulfills the prediction that a child would be born on behalf of humanity. That history, from his birth to his resurrection, demonstrates that Christ was a real human being. The same birth account shows that he was conceived by the power of the Highest and was born to Mary at Bethlehem in Judea during the reign of Augustus Caesar.