as He spokeThis phrase emphasizes the divine communication from God to humanity. Throughout the Bible, God has spoken to His people in various ways, including through direct revelation, dreams, visions, and most notably, through His prophets. This underscores the belief in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, where God’s will and purposes are revealed to His people. The act of speaking signifies a personal and relational God who desires to communicate with His creation.
through His holy prophets
The prophets were individuals chosen by God to deliver His messages to the people. They were considered holy, set apart for the specific purpose of conveying God’s words. The role of a prophet was not only to foretell future events but also to call people back to faithfulness and obedience to God’s covenant. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel played crucial roles in guiding Israel and Judah, often warning of judgment while also offering hope of redemption. The holiness of the prophets underscores their divine appointment and the sacredness of their message.
those of ages past
This phrase refers to the long history of prophetic tradition in Israel, stretching back to figures like Moses, Samuel, and Elijah. It highlights the continuity and consistency of God’s message throughout history. The prophets of old spoke of God’s promises, including the coming of the Messiah, which is a central theme in the New Testament. This continuity is seen as evidence of God’s unchanging nature and His faithfulness to His promises. The phrase also connects the New Testament narrative to the Old Testament, showing the fulfillment of prophecies and the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
GodThe ultimate speaker and source of prophecy, who communicates His will and plans through His chosen prophets.
2.
Holy ProphetsIndividuals chosen by God throughout history to deliver His messages and reveal His plans to His people.
3.
Ages PastRefers to the historical timeline of the Old Testament, where God consistently communicated with His people through prophets.
Teaching Points
The Faithfulness of GodGod is faithful in His promises, as evidenced by His consistent communication through the prophets. Believers can trust in His word and His plans for the future.
The Role of ProphetsProphets were vital in conveying God's messages. Today, believers are called to discern and heed God's word as revealed in Scripture, which is the culmination of prophetic revelation.
Continuity of God's PlanThe message of salvation and redemption has been consistent from the Old Testament through the New Testament. Understanding this continuity helps believers appreciate the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
The Importance of ScriptureSince God has spoken through the prophets, the Bible is a reliable source of truth and guidance. Believers should prioritize studying and applying Scripture in their daily lives.
Living in ExpectationJust as the prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, believers today live in expectation of Christ's return. This anticipation should influence how we live and share the gospel.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Luke 1:70?
2.How does Luke 1:70 affirm the reliability of God's prophetic word?
3.What role do prophets play in God's communication, as seen in Luke 1:70?
4.How does Luke 1:70 connect with Old Testament prophecies about Jesus?
5.How can we trust God's promises today, based on Luke 1:70?
6.How should Luke 1:70 influence our understanding of God's faithfulness in Scripture?
7.How does Luke 1:70 affirm the reliability of biblical prophecy?
8.What prophets are referenced in Luke 1:70?
9.How does Luke 1:70 support the continuity of God's message through history?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 1?
11.What did Jesus mean by 'This generation will not pass'?
12.If the Bible is historically accurate, why do its prophecies often fail or require vague reinterpretation?
13.Why do Jesus' statements about the end times suggest he expected the world to end in his generation?
14.In Mark 13:30, Jesus says 'this generation shall not pass' before these events happen; how do we reconcile this statement with the centuries that have passed?What Does Luke 1:70 Mean
He spoke•Luke 1:70 reminds us that God Himself is the active Speaker. Scripture is never merely human reflection; it is divine communication.
•Hebrews 1:1-2 affirms this: “On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.”
• God’s word is living and effectual.Isaiah 55:11 promises it “will not return… empty,” andPsalm 33:9 notes, “He spoke, and it came to be.”
• Because the Speaker is perfect, what He says is perfectly reliable and literally true.
through His holy prophets• God chose consecrated messengers—“holy prophets”—to carry His voice.
•2 Peter 1:21 explains the process: “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
•Amos 3:7 echoes the principle: “The Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.”
•Deuteronomy 18:18 shows that God even foretold the coming of The Prophet like Moses, finding ultimate fulfillment in Christ (Acts 3:22-24).
• The holiness of the prophets did not stem from personal perfection but from being set apart by God for this unique task.
those of ages past• Zechariah’s phrase stretches back to the earliest promises—Abraham (Genesis 12:3), Moses, David, Isaiah, Micah, and all who pointed forward to the Messiah.
• Generation after generation, God wove a single, unified storyline:
– Promise of worldwide blessing through Abraham’s Seed (Genesis 22:18).
– Declaration of an eternal throne for David’s line (2 Samuel 7:12-13).
– Detailed prophecies of Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and His redemptive suffering (Isaiah 53).
• Luke ties these “ages past” voices to the arrival of Jesus, showing that none of God’s words have failed (Luke 24:44;Acts 3:18).
• The continuity proves both God’s faithfulness and Scripture’s coherence; what He announced centuries earlier He has now performed.
summaryLuke 1:70 celebrates a God who speaks, who chooses holy prophets to relay His exact words, and who threads those words through the centuries until they blossom in Christ. The verse calls us to trust every promise recorded in Scripture, confident that the same faithful Lord who spoke in ages past continues to fulfill His word today.
(70)
His holy prophets, which have been since the world began.--The words were probably more than a lofty paraphrase of the more usual language, "of old time," "of ancient days," and imply a reference to the great first Gospel, as it has been called, of
Genesis 3:15, as well as to those made to Abraham, who is the first person named as a prophet (
Genesis 20:7).
Verse 70. -
By the mouth of his holy prophets. Zacharias looked on all that was then happening as clearly foretold in those sacred prophetic writings preserved in the nation with so much care and reverence. Which have been since the world began. He considered Messianic prophecy as dating from the first intimation after the fall in Eden (
Genesis 3:15), and continuing in an intermittent but yet unbroken line from Genesis to Malachi.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
asκαθὼς(kathōs)Adverb
Strong's 2531:According to the manner in which, in the degree that, just as, as. From kata and hos; just as, that.He spokeἐλάλησεν(elalēsen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2980:A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.throughδιὰ(dia)Preposition
Strong's 1223:A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.Hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.holyἁγίων(hagiōn)Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 40:Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.prophets,προφητῶν(prophētōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 4396:From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.[those] ofἀπ’(ap’)Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.ages past,αἰῶνος(aiōnos)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 165:From the same as aei; properly, an age; by extension, perpetuity; by implication, the world; specially a Messianic period.
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NT Gospels: Luke 1:70 As he spoke by the mouth (Luke Lu Lk) 
