Commentari biblici

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Many have taken in hand — Or, have attempted, επεχειρησαν , but not effected. Hence some have concluded, that Luke wrote first of the four evangelists. Howbeit the common opinion is (and the most ancient copies say as much) that Matthew wrote his Gospel eight years after Christ, Mark ten, Luke fifteen, and John forty-two.

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Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

Which from the beginning were eyewitnesses — Therefore it may seem his Gospel was not dictated to him by Paul (who was no eyewitness), as some ancients have affirmed. But if we can believe Tacitus or Suetonius in things that happened long before they were born, because we are confident of their diligence in inquiring, how much more should we believe St Luke upon such doubted assurance? …

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It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Having had perfect understanding — Or, following them close at heels, and (as we say) hot-foot, παρηκολουθηκοτι .

From the very first — Or, from above, ανωθεν , as inspired from heaven.

To write unto thee in order — καθεξης , distinctly, and yet coherently. A singular praise in a historian, for the which Ambrose much admireth this our evangelist above all the other.

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That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Wherein thou hast been instructed — Which thou hast received by hearsay, or by word of mouth; and wherein thou hast been catechised, receiving the mysteries of the faith by the ministry of the voice, κατηχηθης . And surely when we see men caring and casting how to find out this certainty here spoken of, and not be led by conjectural, suppositions, but be fully persuaded as St Luke was, and would have his Theophilus to be, then there will be some hopes that the Lord’s party will increase.

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There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

In the days of Herod — Herod a stranger, upon the death of Antigonus, last of the Maccabeans, by Augustus’ favour, was made King of Judea, and reigned 34 years. After his and his son’s death, Judea was again reduced into a Roman province, and the government thereof committed unto Pontius Pilate, then to Petronius, after him to Felix, Festus, Albinus, and Florus, whose cruelty provoked the Jews to rebellion and war, to their utter overthrow.

Of the course of Abia — According to their weekly waitings at the altar, 1 Chronicles 24:7-18 . God would not have his ministers over wrought, though he require them to labour according to their strength, even to weariness. But how thankless is their labour that do wilfully overspend themselves!

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And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

In all the commandments and ordinances — That is, in all the duties of both the moral and ceremonial law.

Blameless — Αμεμπροι , sine querela, saith the Vulgate, "without complaint." They neither complained about others, nor were complained about by others. As it is reported of Burleigh, Lord Treasurer in Queen Elizabeth’s reign, that he never sued any man, nor did any man ever sue him, and was therefore in the number of those few that both lived and died with glory.

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And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

And they had no child — Which was then held a heavy judgment, as that which rendered them suspected of impiety, since godliness had the promise of increase both within doors and without.

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And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

In the order of his course — He took but his turn, and served but his time. God never purposed to burden any of his creatures with devotion.

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