Summary
Luke 1 opens with the author's intention to provide a reliable account for Theophilus. It begins with the angel Gabriel announcing that Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth will bear a son, John the Baptist, who will prepare the people for the Lord. The narrative records Zacharias’ skepticism and his temporary loss of speech as a sign of the angel’s message. It then shifts to Mary, a virgin in Nazareth, receiving the announcement that she will conceive Jesus, the Son of the Highest, who will reign forever. Mary’s response of humility and faith is recorded. The chapter concludes with the birth of John, his naming, and Zacharias’s prophetic testimony, foreshadowing John’s role as the forerunner of Christ. These events set the stage for the ministry of Jesus and the fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel.