Luke 1:26
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
Gabriel
See the comment on Luke 1:19 in the pericope .
Luke 1:27
to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
virgin
Some will argue the Hebrew of Isaiah 7:14 does not necessarily mean "virgin" but can also mean merely "young woman." The New Testament Greek here (παρθένος) is clearly defined as a virgin, not merely a young woman.Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The Jewish translators of the Septuagint centuries earlier chose the Greek word later adopted by the New Testament. It makes sense they would have chosen an impossible translation: Where is the sign in a young woman conceiving a child?
2 Corinthians 11:2
For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
Revelation 14:4
It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb....
Mary
The Greek "Mariam" here transliterates the Hebrew "Miriam." We get both "Mary" and "Maria" from the Greek transliteration.
Luke 1:28
And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
favored
Ephesians 1:5
He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Luke 1:29
But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
greatly troubled
Luke 1:12
And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
Luke 24:36–38
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?"
John 14:1–2
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Luke 1:30
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
you have found favor with God
Genesis 6:6–8
And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
Luke 1:31
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Jesus
The Greek "Jesus" is a transliteration of Hebrew "Joshua."
Luke 1:32
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Son of the Most High
Psalm 2:6–7
"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."
I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you."
the throne of his father David
Psalm 132:11
The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne."
Luke 1:33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
of his kingdom there will be no end
Isaiah 9:6–7
To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Luke 1:34
And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
How will this be...?
Many engaged persons have known the temptation to enter into sexual relations before the wedding. Mary's question is a simple one of mechanics to protest her innocence.
By contrast, Zechariah's question at 1:18 ("How shall I know this?") is an entirely different phrase expressing doubt, more like "How can I be sure?"
I am a virgin
Literally, "I do not know a husband (or, fiancee)." To "know" a person is an ancient idiom for sexual intercourse. Compare, for example:
An idiomatic rendering of this passage might be, "...since my fiancee and I are not sexually active."Genesis 4:1
Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain....
Genesis 24:16
The young woman[, Rebekah,] was very attractive in appearance, a maiden whom no man had known.
Luke 1:35
And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.
overshadow
In the New Testament this word is used only here and at the transfiguration when the cloud overshadows those present. The two episodes compare favorably in that they show God is the Father of this Son.
Luke 9:34–35
As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!"
Luke 1:36
And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Luke 1:37
For nothing will be impossible with God."
nothing will be impossible with God
Genesis 18:13-14
The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."
Luke 1:38
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
I am the servant of the Lord
Compare Luke 1:20.1 Samuel 1:17-18
Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.