Luke 1 67

Luke 1:67 kjv

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

Luke 1:67 nkjv

Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

Luke 1:67 niv

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Luke 1:67 esv

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

Luke 1:67 nlt

Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 67 Meaning

Luke 1:67 states that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was divinely empowered by the Holy Ghost immediately after regaining his speech, enabling him to speak words inspired by God, thereby prophesying concerning God's redemptive plan through the coming Messiah and the role of his son, John. This verse highlights a specific, Spirit-filled enablement for prophetic utterance, validating God's work in his life and the dawn of a new era of salvation.

Luke 1 67 Context

Luke 1:67 is situated within the "infancy narrative" of Luke's Gospel, immediately following the birth and naming of John the Baptist. For nine months, Zacharias had been mute as a sign and consequence of his initial unbelief regarding the angel Gabriel's announcement (Luke 1:20). On the eighth day, at John's circumcision ceremony, when pressed to name the child, Zacharias wrote "His name is John," directly complying with the angel's instruction. At that very moment, his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed (Luke 1:64). Verse 67 marks the immediate, Spirit-empowered overflow of this miraculous restoration. It sets the stage for the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79), Zacharias's extensive prophecy that serves as a theological bridge between Old Testament expectations and the unfolding New Covenant. The event underscores God's faithfulness, grace, and direct involvement in history, particularly His preparing the way for Jesus.

Luke 1 67 Word analysis

• And (καί - kai): A simple conjunction signifying immediate sequence or consequence. Here, it highlights the direct and rapid connection between Zacharias's restoration of speech (Lk 1:64) and his being filled with the Spirit, leading to his prophetic utterance.
• his father Zacharias: Emphasizes the man in focus, tying this miraculous event to John the Baptist's lineage and underscoring the transformation of a previously skeptical priest into a mouthpiece for God's truth.
• was filled (ἐπλήσθη - eplēsthē): An aorist passive indicative of pimplemi (to fill, complete, accomplish). The passive voice indicates an action done to Zacharias, emphasizing that it was a sovereign, divine act of God, not something Zacharias initiated. In Luke-Acts, this term frequently denotes a sudden, overwhelming endowment with the Holy Spirit for a specific purpose, often involving proclamation or powerful action (e.g., Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31). It implies a full permeation, signifying profound divine influence and control.
• with the Holy Ghost (πνεύματος ἁγίου - pneumatos hagiou): Identifies the source of Zacharias's enablement as God's divine Spirit. In biblical theology, the "Holy Ghost" or "Holy Spirit" is God Himself acting in power and truth. His presence here legitimizes Zacharias's ensuing prophecy, affirming it as divinely inspired revelation, not mere human speech. This particular "filling" is a pre-Pentecost empowering, akin to the Spirit "coming upon" individuals in the Old Testament for prophetic or specific tasks.
• and prophesied (καὶ ἐπροφήτευσεν - kai eprophēteusen): From prophēteuō (to speak by divine inspiration, to be a prophet, to foretell). This signifies that Zacharias did not merely utter random words after a long silence, but spoke supernaturally inspired words, acting as a direct channel for God's message. Prophecy in this context is speaking God's word, often revealing His will, truth, or future events, rather than just prediction. It's a direct outcome and manifestation of being filled with the Spirit.
• saying (λέγων - legōn): A present participle, indicating that what immediately followed (the Benedictus in Lk 1:68-79) was the content of his prophecy.

  Words-group analysis

  • was filled with the Holy Ghost: This phrase signifies a pivotal divine intervention. After a period of enforced silence, God sovereignly intervened, empowering Zacharias with the very Spirit who brings life and truth. This is not simply a personal spiritual experience, but an endowment for a specific, public ministry of revelation, akin to prophets and leaders throughout biblical history who were similarly touched by the Spirit for God's purposes.
  • and prophesied, saying: This segment highlights the immediate and direct result of Zacharias's Spirit-filling: his transformation into a divinely-inspired spokesperson. The restoration of his speech was precisely so that he could declare God's truth and purpose concerning John and the Messiah. This emphasizes that divine empowerment is always for God's glory and for the accomplishment of His redemptive plan, enabling His servants to communicate His message accurately and powerfully.

  Commentary

  Luke 1:67 serves as the dramatic culmination of Zacharias's journey from skepticism to submission and Spirit-filled service. After nine months of mute reflection, God's promise to Zacharias, a consequence of both divine discipline and grace, finds its powerful resolution. The moment his tongue is loosed upon affirming God's word concerning John's name, he is instantaneously "filled with the Holy Ghost." This filling is a specific divine enablement for prophecy, signifying that his speech is not merely restored but consecrated to divine purpose. He doesn't just speak, he prophesies. This Spirit-inspired declaration, the Benedictus, is a profound testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promises through the coming of Christ and John. It demonstrates that God's judgment can be reversed into divine empowerment, showcasing His sovereignty and transformative power.

  Bonus section

  • The description of Zacharias being "filled with the Holy Ghost" establishes a vital theological theme in Luke's Gospel and the book of Acts: the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit for specific acts of testimony, praise, and ministry (Lk 1:15, 41; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31). This particular filling highlights a unique prophetic moment.
  • The events surrounding John's birth, especially Zacharias's recovered voice and subsequent prophecy, were considered widely significant. "Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea" (Lk 1:65). This publicly affirmed the divine hand in John's unusual birth and prepared the way for his ministry.
  • Zacharias's prophecy, known as the Benedictus, serves as a rich theological commentary on the coming of the Messiah and John's preparatory role. It intertwines numerous Old Testament promises (e.g., the covenant with Abraham, Davidic covenant) with the new reality dawning through Christ.
  • The act of prophecy here reinforces the continuity between the Old Testament prophetic tradition and the new work of God. Just as prophets of old spoke by the Spirit, so Zacharias is now given a Spirit-breathed word, linking the covenants.

Luke 1 67 Bonus section

• The description of Zacharias being "filled with the Holy Ghost" establishes a vital theological theme in Luke's Gospel and the book of Acts: the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit for specific acts of testimony, praise, and ministry (Lk 1:15, 41; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31). This particular filling highlights a unique prophetic moment.
• The events surrounding John's birth, especially Zacharias's recovered voice and subsequent prophecy, were considered widely significant. "Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea" (Lk 1:65). This publicly affirmed the divine hand in John's unusual birth and prepared the way for his ministry.
• Zacharias's prophecy, known as the Benedictus, serves as a rich theological commentary on the coming of the Messiah and John's preparatory role. It intertwines numerous Old Testament promises (e.g., the covenant with Abraham, Davidic covenant) with the new reality dawning through Christ.
• The act of prophecy here reinforces the continuity between the Old Testament prophetic tradition and the new work of God. Just as prophets of old spoke by the Spirit, so Zacharias is now given a Spirit-breathed word, linking the covenants.

Luke 1 67 Commentary