John Is Named, and Zechariah Praises God

1:57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son. 1:58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 1:59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. 1:60 But his mother replied, "No! He must be named John." 1:61 They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name." 1:62 So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son. 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed. 1:64 Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. 1:65 All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about. 1:66 All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the Lord's hand was indeed with him. 1:67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people. 1:69 For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago, 1:71 that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us. 1:72 He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant - 1:73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants 1:74 that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear, 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live. 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 1:77 to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. 1:78 Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high 1:79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." 1:80 And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Elizabeth gives birth to John, and God, not family custom, determines his name. When Zechariah confirms the name, his speech is restored. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he blesses God for remembering His covenant, raising up salvation from the house of David, and sending John ahead to prepare the Lord’s way.

Luke shows that John’s birth is not a random family event. The Lord has shown mercy to Elizabeth, and her neighbors rejoice with her. At the naming, the family expects the child to be called Zechariah, but Elizabeth and Zechariah both insist that his name is John. This shows that God’s word must stand above custom and human expectation.

When Zechariah writes the name, his mouth is opened at once. The sign of judgment is removed, and he blesses God. The people are filled with fear and wonder, because they know that God is doing something weighty. They keep asking what this child will become, for the Lord’s hand was with him.

Then Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks a prophecy of praise. He blesses the Lord God of Israel because God has visited and redeemed His people. He says that God has raised up a horn of salvation in the house of David. This points to the coming Messiah, not to John. Zechariah says that God is acting in faithfulness to His prophets, to His holy covenant, and to the oath He swore to Abraham.

The salvation in view is not only rescue from enemies. It also includes forgiveness of sins. God rescues His people so that they may serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness all their days.

Zechariah then turns to John directly. John will be the prophet of the Most High. He will go before the Lord to prepare His ways and to give God’s people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. John is great, but his role is preparatory. He does not take the Savior’s place. He points people toward Him.

Zechariah ends by speaking of God’s tender mercy like a dawn from on high shining into darkness and death. The result is peace. John later grows strong in spirit and lives in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

• God’s word determines John’s identity, not family custom.
• Zechariah’s restored speech confirms that God’s earlier word has been fulfilled.
• The “horn of salvation” is the coming Davidic Messiah, not John.
• God’s saving work fulfills His promises to David, Abraham, and the prophets.
• Salvation includes both deliverance and the forgiveness of sins.
• God rescues His people so that they may serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness.
• John’s ministry is great because it prepares the way for the Lord rather than taking His place.

• Do not let John’s birth scene hide the main point of Zechariah’s prophecy: the greater Savior is coming.
• Do not reduce “saved from our enemies” to only politics or only inner feelings; Luke includes both deliverance and forgiveness.
• Do not read the prophecy as flat prose; it is poetic praise, but it teaches real truth.
• Do not build theories about John’s early life from the wilderness note in verse 80.

Luke presents these events as the next step in God’s long-promised saving plan. God remembers His covenant with Abraham, fulfills His prophetic word, raises up Davidic salvation, and sends John ahead as the forerunner who prepares the Lord’s way.

When God has spoken, His word must come before custom, habit, or human expectation. When God keeps His promises, the right response is praise. And like John, faithful ministry points people away from itself and toward the Lord.

Related commentary links will be expanded as this tier is built.