1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, 1 the angel Gabriel 2 was sent by 3 God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 4
2:39 So 5 when Joseph and Mary 6 had performed 7 everything according to the law of the Lord, 8 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 9 of Nazareth. 10
4:16 Now 23 Jesus 24 came to Nazareth, 25 where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue 26 on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. 27 He 28 stood up to read, 29
1 tn Grk “in the sixth month.” The phrase “of Elizabeth’s pregnancy” was supplied in the translation to clarify the exact time meant by this reference. That Elizabeth’s pregnancy is meant is clear from vv. 24-25.
2 sn Gabriel is the same angel mentioned previously in v. 19. He is traditionally identified as an angel who brings revelation (see Dan 8:15-16; 9:21). Gabriel and Michael are the only two good angels named in the Bible.
3 tn Or “from.” The account suggests God’s planned direction in these events, so “by” is better than “from,” as six months into Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God acts again.
4 sn Nazareth was a town in the region of Galilee, located north of Samaria and Judea. Galilee extended from about 45 to 85 miles north of Jerusalem and was about 30 miles in width. Nazareth was a very small village and was located about 15 miles west of the southern edge of the Sea of Galilee.
map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion of the topic.
6 tn Grk “when they”; the referents (Joseph and Mary) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
7 tn Or “completed.”
8 sn On the phrase the law of the Lord see Luke 2:22-23.
9 tn Or “city.”
10 map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
12 map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
13 tn Or “was submitting.”
14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast.
15 tn Or “all these words.”
16 sn On the phrase his mother kept all these things in her heart compare Luke 2:19.
17 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.
18 sn On Nazareth see Luke 1:26.
map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
19 tn Or “town.” The translation “city” is used here because of its collocation with “of David,” suggesting its importance, though not its size.
20 sn The journey from Nazareth to the city of David called Bethlehem was a journey of about 90 mi (150 km). Bethlehem was a small village located about 7 miles south-southwest of Jerusalem.
map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.
21 sn Luke’s use of the term “house” probably alludes to the original promise made to David outlined in the Nathan oracle of 2 Sam 7:12-16, especially in light of earlier connections between Jesus and David made in Luke 1:32. Further, the mention of Bethlehem reminds one of the promise of Mic 5:2, namely, that a great king would emerge from Bethlehem to rule over God’s people.
22 tn Or “family,” “lineage.”
23 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
24 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
25 sn Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown (which is why he is known as Jesus of Nazareth) about 20 miles (30 km) southwest from Capernaum.
map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
26 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
27 tn Grk “according to his custom.”
28 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
29 sn In normative Judaism of the period, the OT scripture was read and discussed in the synagogue by the men who were present. See the Mishnah, m. Megillah 3-4; m. Berakhot 2. First came the law, then the prophets, then someone was asked to speak on the texts. Normally one stood up to read out of respect for the scriptures, and then sat down (v. 20) to expound them.