Luke 1:23 kjv

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

Luke 1:23 nkjv

So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.

Luke 1:23 niv

When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

Luke 1:23 esv

And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

Luke 1:23 nlt

When Zechariah's week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 23 Meaning

Luke 1:23 indicates the completion of Zechariah's divinely appointed term of priestly service in the Temple. Upon concluding his sacred duties, he departed from Jerusalem and returned to his residence. This precise and orderly transition from the public, ritual space of the Temple to the private, domestic setting of his home is pivotal, as it sets the stage for the fulfillment of God's promise regarding the conception of John the Baptist with his wife, Elizabeth.

Luke 1 23 Context

Luke 1:23 follows a profound and miraculous encounter within the Holy Place of the Jerusalem Temple. Zechariah, a priest of the division of Abijah, had been chosen by lot for the rare and high privilege of burning incense. While performing this sacred duty, he was visited by the angel Gabriel, who announced that his barren and aged wife, Elizabeth, would conceive a son, John, who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Zechariah's doubt regarding this promise led to him being struck dumb until the day the prophecy would be fulfilled (Luke 1:20-22). Verse 23 details the practical culmination of his temple service, signifying that despite his silence, he completed his priestly obligations. His subsequent return to his home marks a necessary transition from the public sphere of temple worship to the private, domestic realm where God's miraculous work through Elizabeth would physically begin, preparing the way for the next phase of God's redemptive plan.

Luke 1 23 Word analysis

• And it came to pass, that, as soon as: The Greek phrase kai egeneto hōs indicates a continuation and progression of events, literally "and it happened as." Luke often uses this formula to link narrative sequences, emphasizing the orderly and divinely directed flow of events. It implies immediate action following the completion of the stated condition.

• the days of his ministration: The Greek hai hēmerai tēs leitourgias autou translates literally as "the days of his liturgy/service."

  • days: Hēmerai (plural) refers to the specified duration of his service. Priests served in courses for set periods, typically a week long (cf. 1 Chr 24:10 for the division of Abijah).
  • ministration: Leitourgias (from leitourgia) is a significant term. It means public service, especially in a sacred context like temple worship or priestly duty. It emphasizes Zechariah's official, religious role performed on behalf of the community. This term later extends to describe Christian service (e.g., Phil 2:30; Rom 15:27).

• were accomplished: The Greek eplēsthēsan means "were fulfilled" or "were completed." It denotes the precise end of a pre-determined period. This highlights that Zechariah's term was fixed and finished according to priestly custom and divine arrangement, not by personal choice. This completion signifies divine order at work.

• he departed: The Greek apēlthen simply means "he went away" or "he returned." It's a straightforward action, marking his physical departure from the Temple precincts.

• to his own house: The Greek eis ton oikon autou signifies a return to his personal, private dwelling. The possessive "his own" emphasizes the shift from the sacred, public sphere of the Temple to the intimacy of his home and family life. This transition is crucial for the narrative's progression, as the next miraculous event—Elizabeth's conception—will occur in this private setting.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "the days of his ministration were accomplished": This phrase stresses the precise and complete fulfillment of Zechariah's temple service. It underscores divine timing and the orderliness of God's work even within established human institutions. Despite being struck dumb, Zechariah fulfilled his duties perfectly to the very end of his assigned period.
  • "he departed to his own house": This phrase denotes a significant transition from the public realm of religious duty to the private realm of personal and family life. It illustrates God's unfolding plan moving from a public manifestation (angelic visitation in the Temple) to an intensely personal, domestic event (the miraculous conception of John).

Luke 1 23 Bonus section

• Significance of "Ministration" (Leitourgia): The term leitourgia connects Old Testament temple service with broader New Testament concepts of service and worship, even pointing to Christ's superior "liturgy" (ministry) as High Priest. Zechariah's service, while honorable, was time-bound and indicative of the old covenant, soon to be superseded by the more excellent and perfect ministry of Christ.
• Ritual Purity: Upon completion of Temple duties, priests would often undergo rituals of cleansing before returning to common life, though Luke does not explicitly state this for Zechariah. His return to "his own house" implies a return to normal social and familial interactions after a period of specialized sacred function.
• Transition from Public to Private: The shift from the Temple's grandeur to Zechariah's home is crucial. God often initiates significant events in private spheres after public revelations (e.g., Abraham's call, Mary's annunciation). This highlights the personal and intimate nature of God's work, which often unfolds quietly before a wider public manifestation.
• Patience and Divine Timing: Zechariah's initial disbelief led to a period of muteness, but it did not prevent him from finishing his service. This exemplifies God's patience and that His timing is precise, independent of immediate human reaction, but always aligned with His greater purpose.

Luke 1 23 Commentary

Luke 1:23 provides the critical juncture between Zechariah's miraculous encounter in the Temple and the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise concerning John the Baptist. Upon the exact completion of his prescribed temple service, Zechariah, still bearing the silent witness of his disbelief, dutifully returns to his home. This return from the sacred, public space to his private, domestic life highlights God's sovereignty and precise timing. The divine narrative is shown to move from institutional religion to the intimate sphere of a family, demonstrating that God's plans unfold not only in grand public ceremonies but also in the quiet, personal spaces of everyday life, precisely as His appointed times conclude and new phases commence. This careful narrative progression sets the stage for the miraculous conception of John, demonstrating that the Temple event, though profound, was merely a precursor to a more intimate and personal divine action.