Big Idea: Both the extraordinary circumstances of his birth and his father’s inspired utterance testify to John’s pivotal role in the plan of salvation.

Understanding the Text

The two angelic announcements in 1:11–17 and 1:26–37 are now followed by accounts of their fulfillment in the birth of John and (in the next section) the birth of Jesus. Linking this passage closely with the opening scene of the Gospel are the return of Zechariah’s power of speech, lost at the time of Gabriel’s announcement (1:20–22) and recovered at the very moment of its fulfillment (cf. 1:20); the countercultural choice of the name “John,” given by Gabriel (1:13); and the rejoicing at John’s birth (cf. 1:14).

The fact that the second of Luke’s Spirit-inspired canticles (cf. the Magnificat [1:46–55] and the Nunc…