Strong drink (σικερα). A Hebrew word transliterated into Greek, an intoxicating drink. Here only in the N.T. John was to be a pers…

Shall be great. He will be eminent, or distinguished as a preacher.

In the sight of the Lord. In Greek, before the Lor…

And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.—The child now promised was to grow up as a Nazarite ([Reference Numbers 6:…

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call hi…

St. Ambrose of Milan: Following the prophecy that he will be the cause of rejoicing for many, the greatness of his virtue is…

The description of the child’s mission has a counterpart in Gabriel’s words to Mary (vv.32–33); this is part of the literary device that connects a…

For he shall be great. He confirms what he said about joy, for John had been selected for a great and extraordinary purpose. Thes…

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord
Of Jehovah, the Father; with whom, what is highly esteemed among men,…

The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners, as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were distingui…