Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 1:13

"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John." — Luke 1:13 (ASV)

This is the first indication of prayer on the part of Zechariah. The specific petition probably refers to both his lifelong prayer for a child (probably a son) and his just-offered prayer in the temple for the messianic redemption of Israel. Actually, the birth of his child was bound up with redemption in a way far beyond anything Zechariah expected. That the prayer included a petition for a son is substantiated by the further description of the child, beginning with his name “John” (meaning “The Lord [Yahweh] is gracious”). His being named before his birth stresses God’s sovereignty in choosing him to be his servant.