2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 7 having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the consequential nature of the action.
2 sn On Nazareth see Luke 1:26.
map For location see Map1-D3; Map2-C2; Map3-D5; Map4-C1; Map5-G3.
3 tn Or “town.” The translation “city” is used here because of its collocation with “of David,” suggesting its importance, though not its size.
4 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.
5 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.
6 tn Or “family,” “lineage.”
7 tn Her age is emphasized by the Greek phrase here, “she was very old in her many days.”
8 tn Grk “And soldiers.”
9 tn Grk “And what should we ourselves do?”
10 tn Or “Rob no one.” The term διασείσητε (diaseishte) here refers to “shaking someone.” In this context it refers to taking financial advantage of someone through violence, so it refers essentially to robbery. Soldiers are to perform their tasks faithfully. A changed person is to carry out his tasks in life faithfully and without grumbling.
11 tn The term translated “accusation” (συκοφαντήσητε, sukofanthshte) refers to a procedure by which someone could bring charges against an individual and be paid a part of the fine imposed by the court. Soldiers could do this to supplement their pay, and would thus be tempted to make false accusations.
12 sn Demons also came out. Note how Luke distinguishes healing from exorcism here, implying that the two are not identical.
13 tn Grk “crying out and saying.” The participle λέγοντα (legonta) is redundant in English and has not been translated here.
14 tc Most
15 tn Or “commanded,” but “rebuke” implies strong disapproval, which seems to be more in keeping with the context here (L&N 33.419).
16 sn Jesus would not allow the demons to speak because the time for such disclosure was not yet at hand, and such a revelation would have certainly been misunderstood by the people. In all likelihood, if the people had understood him early on to be the Son of God, or Messiah, they would have reduced his mission to one of political deliverance from Roman oppression (cf. John 6:15). Jesus wanted to avoid, as much as possible, any premature misunderstanding about who he was and what he was doing. However, at the end of his ministry, he did not deny such a title when the high priest asked him (22:66-71).
17 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
sn Note how Luke associates Son of God with Messiah (Christ) in this context, a regal connection with OT roots (Ps 2:7). Also, see the note on Christ in 2:11.
18 tn A figurative extension of the literal meaning “to turn one’s nose up at someone”; here “ridicule, sneer at, show contempt for” (L&N 33.409).
19 sn The irony in the statement Let him save himself is that salvation did come, but later, not while on the cross.
20 tn This is a first class condition in the Greek text.
21 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”
sn See the note on Christ in 2:11.