Luke 1:67

¶ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

And {G2532} his {G846} father {G3962} Zacharias {G2197} was filled {G4130} with the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151}, and {G2532} prophesied {G4395}, saying {G3004},

His father Z'kharyah was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and spoke this prophecy:

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

Context of Luke 1:67

Luke 1:67 immediately follows the miraculous birth of John the Baptist and the naming ceremony where Zacharias, his father, defied tradition by insisting on the name "John" (as commanded by the angel Gabriel). For nine months, Zacharias had been struck mute as a consequence of his initial disbelief regarding the angel's message (Luke 1:20). The moment he wrote down "John" for his son's name, his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God (Luke 1:64). This verse marks the culmination of that miraculous restoration, revealing a deeper spiritual outpouring.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Inspiration and Empowerment: The central theme is Zacharias being "filled with the Holy Ghost." This signifies a direct, supernatural empowerment by God's Spirit, enabling him to speak not merely his own thoughts, but divine revelation. This filling is distinct from general spiritual presence; it's for a specific purpose – prophecy.
  • Prophecy and God's Redemptive Plan: Zacharias's subsequent prophecy (known as the Benedictus, Luke 1:68-79) outlines God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, the coming salvation through the Messiah, and the role of his son, John, as the forerunner. This highlights that God's plan of redemption, long foretold, was now unfolding in a tangible way.
  • Restoration and Acknowledgment: Zacharias's initial doubt led to his muteness, a physical manifestation of his spiritual hesitation. His restoration of speech, followed by being filled with the Spirit and prophesying, symbolizes his full spiritual restoration and his public acknowledgment of God's mighty works.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "filled with the Holy Ghost" (KJV) or "filled with the Holy Spirit" (ESV, NIV) uses the Greek word epiplēsthē (ἐπλήσθη), which means to be "filled up," "completely filled," or "overwhelmed." This isn't merely a partial presence but a complete saturation for a particular divine purpose. In the New Testament, being "filled with the Holy Spirit" often accompanies moments of significant divine revelation, bold witness, or supernatural acts, as seen later with Peter and the apostles in Acts 2:4.

Significance and Practical Application

Luke 1:67 illustrates God's active involvement in human affairs and His use of ordinary people for extraordinary purposes.

  • God's Faithfulness: Just as God was faithful to His promises concerning John's birth and the coming Messiah, He remains faithful to His word today.
  • The Holy Spirit's Role: This verse underscores the vital role of the Holy Spirit in revealing God's truth and empowering believers for service, witness, and understanding. It reminds us that divine insight often comes through the Spirit's enabling.
  • Overcoming Doubt: Zacharias's journey from doubt to divine praise and prophecy offers encouragement that God can restore and use even those who have faltered in faith. His experience serves as a powerful testament to God's grace and transformative power.
  • Praise and Prophecy: When God works powerfully in our lives, the natural response should be praise and a proclamation of His greatness, much like Zacharias's spontaneous outpouring.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joel 2:28

    ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

  • Luke 1:41

    And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

  • Luke 1:15

    For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

  • 2 Samuel 23:2

    The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

  • 2 Peter 1:21

    For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

  • Numbers 11:25

    And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that [was] upon him, and gave [it] unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, [that], when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
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