Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew Mark and Luke John Calvin (continued)
Luke 1:67-75
LUKE 1:67-75
Luke 1:67-75 67. And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying: 68. Blessed be the Lord God of israel, because he hath visited, and hath brought redemption to his people: 69. And he hath raised up the horn 68 of salvation to us in the house of his servant David, (70. As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been from every age,) 69 71. Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hated us: 72. To perform the mercy to our fathers, and to have remembrance of his holy covenant, 73. According to the oath, 70 which he sware to Abraham our father, to give to us, 74. That, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear, 75. In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
67. Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost We have lately explained this phrase to mean, that the servants of God received more abundantly the grace of the Spirit, of which, at other times, they were not destitute. Thus we read, that the Spirit was given to the prophets: not that on other occasions they wanted it, but that the power of the Spirit was more fully exerted in them, when the hand of God, as it were, brought them into public view, for the discharge of their office. We must observe, therefore, the manner in which Luke connects the two clauses: he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied This implies that divine inspiration, at that time, rested upon him in an extraordinary measure, in consequence of which he did not speak like a man or private person, but all that he uttered was heavenly instruction. Thus also Paul connects prophecy with the Spirit.
"Quench not the Spirit: despise not prophesyings," (1 Thessalonians 5:19, 20.) which teaches us that to despise instruction is to "quench" the light of 68"La corne de salut." 69"De tout temps." — "From all time." 70"Secundum jusjurandum" — "(Qui est) le jurement," — "which is the oath."