John Calvin Commentary Luke 1:76

"Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;" — Luke 1:76 (ASV)

And you, child, Zacharias again returns to commend the grace of Christ, but does this, so to speak, in the person of his son, by describing briefly the office to which he had been appointed as an instructor. Though in a little infant eight days old he does not yet observe prophetic endowments, yet turning his eyes to the purpose of God, he speaks of it as something already known.

To be called means here to be considered and openly acknowledged as the prophet of God. A secret calling of God had already taken place. It only remained that the nature of that calling should be made known to people.

But as the name Prophet is general, Zacharias, following the revelation brought to him by the angel, affirms that he would be the usher⁸⁰ or herald of Christ. He says, you shall go before the face of the Lord: that is, you shall discharge the office of turning people by your preaching to hear the Lord.

The reason why John, when he had nearly finished his course, affirmed that he was not a prophet of God, is explained by me in the proper place (John 1:21), and in what manner he was to prepare his ways we shall afterwards see.

⁸⁰ “Apparitorem.” — “.” — “Heraut.”.”