John Calvin Commentary Luke 2:36

"And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity," — Luke 2:36 (ASV)

And there was Anna, a prophetess (Luke 2:36). Luke mentions not more than two persons who received Christ, and this is intended to teach us that whatever belongs to God, however small it may be, should be preferred by us to the whole world.

The scribes and priests, no doubt, were then surrounded by great splendor. However, since the Spirit of God, whose presence was not at all enjoyed by those rulers,²⁰³ dwelt in Simeon and Anna, these two persons are entitled to greater reverence than an immense multitude of those whose pride is swelled by nothing but empty titles.

For this reason, the historian mentions Anna’s age, gives her the designation of prophetess, and thirdly, bears a remarkable testimony to her piety, and to the holiness and chastity of her life. These are the qualities that justly give people weight and estimation.

And certainly, no one is led astray by the dazzling and empty magnificence of outward show, except those who are drawn by the vanity of their own minds to take pleasure in being deceived.

She had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity (Luke 2:36). This is intended to inform us that she was a widow in the very prime of her life. She had married young and shortly afterwards lost her husband. The circumstance of her not entering into a second marriage while she was still in the full strength of her body²⁰⁴ is mentioned to heighten the commendation of her chastity.

The subsequent statement, that she was a widow of about eighty-four years, (Luke 2:37) may be explained in two ways. Either that time had passed in her unmarried state,²⁰⁵ or it was the whole period of her life. If you reckon the eighty-four years as the time of her widowhood, it would follow that she was more than a hundred years old; but I leave that matter uncertain.

The Spirit of prophecy still shone in a very few, who served as tokens to attest the doctrine of the Law and the Jewish religion, until the coming of Christ. In such a dissolute state of society, God’s elect needed such aids to prevent them from being carried away.

²⁰³ The word rulers (principes) appears to be here used sarcastically; for his own translation is,” appears to be here used sarcastically; for his own translation is,” duquel estoyent du tout destituez les autres, combien que ce fussent les gouverneurs;” — “of which the others were entirely destitute, though they were rulers.”;” — “of which the others were entirely destitute, though they were rulers.”

²⁰⁴ “Quum adhuc vegeto esset corpore.”.”

²⁰⁵ “Il y avoit tant de temps que son mari estoit mort;” — “it was so long since her husband died.”;” — “it was so long since her husband died.”