And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
After the angel Gabriel departed from her in Nazareth, Mary arose in those days and went with haste into the hill country to a city of Judah, where she entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth her kinswoman, who was herself with child in old age. That house was in that city in the hill country of Judah, where Zacharias had returned after completing his priestly service in Jerusalem. The chapter presents Zacharias as Elisabeth's husband, which necessarily means Elisabeth is his wife, a relationship that death dissolves.
The visit carries the announcement of the birth of Jesus into the home where the birth of John the Baptist had been promised, and Mary in turn receives Elisabeth's salutation. It is one of the incidents connected with the birth of John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ, standing with the angel's annunciation and its results, occurring about B.C. 5. The verse belongs to Luke's longer telling of the early history of the mission of Jesus, which gives the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus more fully than the other Gospels do. It gives the background to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem that is to be clearly understood before the announcement to the shepherds and the presentation in the temple where Jesus is worshiped by angels and men.
The birth account that includes this verse shows that Jesus was truly human, born of Mary, conceived by the power of the Highest and born in Bethlehem during the reign of Augustus. By placing Mary's visit in the home of Zacharias and Elisabeth in the hill country, the verse shows that sacred history includes humble households as well as kings, cities, and palaces.
After the angel Gabriel departed from her in Nazareth, Mary arose in those days and went with haste into the hill country to a city of Judah, where she entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth her kinswoman, who was herself with child in old age. That house was in that city in the hill country of Judah, where Zacharias had returned after completing his priestly service in Jerusalem. The chapter presents Zacharias as Elisabeth's husband, which necessarily means Elisabeth is his wife, a relationship that death dissolves.
The visit carries the announcement of the birth of Jesus into the home where the birth of John the Baptist had been promised, and Mary in turn receives Elisabeth's salutation. It is one of the incidents connected with the birth of John the Baptist the forerunner of Christ, standing with the angel's annunciation and its results, occurring about B.C. 5. The verse belongs to Luke's longer telling of the early history of the mission of Jesus, which gives the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus more fully than the other Gospels do. It gives the background to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem that is to be clearly understood before the announcement to the shepherds and the presentation in the temple where Jesus is worshiped by angels and men.
The birth account that includes this verse shows that Jesus was truly human, born of Mary, conceived by the power of the Highest and born in Bethlehem during the reign of Augustus. By placing Mary's visit in the home of Zacharias and Elisabeth in the hill country, the verse shows that sacred history includes humble households as well as kings, cities, and palaces.