Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 1:12
And when Zacharias saw [him,] he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
12. he was troubled ] Such is the effect always recorded of these supernatural appearances. See Jdg 13:22; Dan 10:7-9; Eze 1:28; Mar 16:8; Rev 1:17.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
He was troubled – He was alone, in the presence of God. The appearance of the angel was sudden, unexpected, and therefore fearful.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Luk 1:12
He was troubled
Terrifying effect of supernatural appearances
Such has usually been the effect of supernatural appearances, even on good men, as is exemplified in Manoah, David, Paul, and others.
1. Mans weakness is incapable of easily bearing the glory of such appearances.
2. His sinfulness naturally makes him afraid that the heavenly messenger may be sent to him in displeasure. Hence appear the wisdom and goodness of God in employing, as the heralds of gospel salvation, not angels but human beings, whose terror does not make us afraid. If, however, we shall be so wise for ourselves as to receive the gospel, and to take the Lord of angels for our Lord, then we shall be prepared without fear to meet, not one angel, or a few angels, but the whole angelic host, with the Lord at their head–that host from which the ungodly will shrink in dismay, but which the ransomed shall gladly join round about the throne, to the number of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. (James Foote, M. A.)
Angelic glory awakening fear
It was partly the suddenness, partly the unexpectedness, and partly the glory of the apparition, that affrighted this good man. Glorious and sudden apparitions do affright even the holiest and best of men. We cannot bear the sight and presence of an angel without consternation and fear, in our frail and sinful state. O happy hour when, mortality and sin being taken out of our natures, we shall not only behold the glorified angels without fear, but the glorious God with delight and love I Lord! let me now see Thee by faith, hereafter by sight. (W. Burkitt, M. A.)
Sight rather than faith the cause of fear
He that had wont to live and serve in the presence of the Master, was now astonished at the presence of the servant; so much difference is there betwixt our faith and our senses that the apprehension of the God of spirits by faith goes down sweetly with us, whereas the sensible apprehension of an angel dismays us. Holy Zachary, that had wont to live by faith, thought he should die, when his sense began to be set on work; it was the weakness of him, that served the altar without horror, to be daunted with the face of his fellow-servant. In vain do we look for such ministers of God as are without infirmities when just Zachary was troubled in his devotions with that wherewith he should have been comforted: it was partly the suddenness and partly the glory of the apparition that affrighted him. (Bishop Hall.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 12. Zacharias – was troubled] Or, confounded at his sudden and unexpected appearance; and fear fell upon him, lest this heavenly messenger were come to denounce the judgments of God against a faithless and disobedient people, who had too long and too well merited them.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We are naturally affrighted at sudden and unusual things, but especially at any Divine appearances, whether God himself takes a shape, or authorizes an angel to do it. So was Daniel, Dan 10:7,8; and Manoah and his wife, Jdg 13:20; and Paul, Act 9:1-18. For though God doth not make these appearances to affright us, yet such is the imbecility of our natures, that we cannot but be shy at them, and start from them; and it is but reasonable that God should by this means both declare his own glory and majesty, and also humble his poor creatures, and make them more impressive, and receptive of his Divine revelations. It is reasonable God should keep and declare his majesty, though we keep and declare our infirmity.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when Zacharias saw him,…. The angel; he was troubled, and fear fell upon him; for such appearances of angels were not now so common as formerly: and when they were more usual, generally had such effects on the minds, even of good men; see Jud 6:22.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “And when Zacharias saw him,” (kai Zacharias idon) “And Zacharias seeing,” perceiving, beholding him; He saw the angel Gabriel standing in an attitude of service on the right side (south side) of the altar, between the golden altar of incense and the candlestick, while Zacharias stood on the north side of the altar offering incense and prayers.
2) “He was troubled,” (etarachthe) “He (came to be) troubled,” discomposed, caused to tremble, not knowing whether the angel came in wrath or mercy. Zacharias was startled as Daniel was, Dan 10:7-8; Dan 10:17; and as John was on Patmos, Rev 1:17.
3) “And fear fell upon him.” (kai phobos epepesen epi’ auton) “And fear fell (came over) him,” overwhelmed him, as he stood there alone, astonished at the sudden appearance of one of God’s servants who had come to bring him good news, Heb 1:14. This fear of the divine, reverential fear, is a state of piety taught in the Old Testament, that men should “fear God and keep (guard) his commandments,” Deu 6:2; Deu 10:12; Psa 19:9; Pro 12:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
12. Zacharias was troubled Though God does not appear to his servants for the purpose of terrifying them, yet it is advantageous and even necessary for them to be struck with awe, (Psa 33:8,) that, amidst their agitation, they may learn to give to God the glory due unto his name, (Psa 29:2.) Nor does Luke relate only that Zacharias was terrified, but adds that fear fell upon him; intimating that he was so alarmed as to give way to terror. The presence of God fills men with alarm, which not only leads them to reverence, but humbles the pride of the flesh, naturally so insolent that they never submit themselves to God until they have been overcome by violence. Hence, too, we infer that it is only when God is absent, — or, in other words, when they withdraw from his presence, — that they indulge in pride and self-flattery; for if they had God as a Judge before their eyes, they would at once and unavoidably fall prostrate. And if at the sight of an angel, who is but a spark of the Divine light, this happened to Zacharias, on whom the commendation of righteousness is bestowed, what shall become of us miserable creatures, if the majesty of God shall overwhelm us with its brightness? We are taught by the example of the holy fathers that those only are impressed with a lively sense of the Divine presence who shake and tremble at beholding him, and that those are stupid and insensible who hear his voice without alarm.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(12) He was troubled.It lies in the nature of the case that during all the long years of Zachariahs ministration, he had seen no such manifestation. As far as we may reason from the analogy of other angelic appearances, the outward form was that of a young man clothed in white linen, or in bright apparel (Mat. 28:3; Mar. 16:5)a kind of transfigured Levite, as One greater than the angels, when he manifested himself amid the imagery of the Temple, appeared as in the garments of a glorified priesthood (Rev. 1:13).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Fear fell Wonderful is the fear which curdles the blood of even the bravest of mortals at the thought of meeting a messenger from God, or an apparition from the world of spirits. It seems to indicate that such beings do exist, and that such is their relation to us that their approach, by way of manifestation, must shock the very foundations of our being. So when the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and to Manoah, both gave themselves up for dead. Jdg 6:12; Jdg 6:22; Jdg 13:3; Jdg 13:22.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell on him.’
Fear and horror gripped his heart. What was this man doing in the sanctuary? The ‘fear’ and ‘trouble’ might have arisen at the thought that this man was defiling the sanctuary by his presence, or it may have been because something emanated from the man which indicated something of the divine, something that did declare his right to be there. But whichever it was, Zacharias was afraid. All his life he had thought of this moment, and he had taken such care over his preparations, and now it was being marred, indeed might even become disastrous. He would remember others before him who had been smitten down because of sacrilege at the moment of the offering of the incense (Lev 10:1-2). Was he now also to face such a death?
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 1:12. He was troubled, &c. That is, according to the Hebrew idiom, he was exceedingly afraid. The angel’s form was such, as shewed him plainly to be a being of a superior nature. See Jdg 13:6. But Zacharias knew not on what errand he was come: no wonder then that he was exceedingly terrified.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
12 And when Zacharias saw him , he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Ver. 12. He was troubled ] But without cause; he should have been comforted rather, for his sins were covered. How will wicked men stand before Christ?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 1:12 . describes the state of mind generally = perturbed, specifically. Yet why afraid, seeing in this case, as always, the objective appearance answers to the inward state of mind? This fear of the divine belongs to O. T. piety.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
saw. Greek. eidon. App-138.
upon. Greek. epi. App-104. As in Luk 1:35. Not the same word as in Luk 1:58.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
he: Luk 1:29, Luk 2:9, Luk 2:10, Jdg 6:22, Jdg 13:22, Job 4:14, Job 4:15, Dan 10:7, Mar 16:5, Act 10:4, Rev 1:17
Reciprocal: 2Sa 9:7 – Fear not Mat 14:26 – they were Mat 28:5 – Fear Mar 5:33 – the woman Luk 24:5 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2
The people were not permitted to accompany the priest in this place (verse 10), hence the appearance of an angel there caused Zacharias to be disturbed.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 1:12. Fear fell upon him. This fear was natural, for angelic revelations had not occurred for centuries.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
It was partly the suddenness, partly the unexpectedness, and partly the glory, of the apparition, that affrighted this good man. Glorious and sudden apparitions do affright even the holiest and best of men. We cannot bear the sight and presence of an angel without consternation and fear, in this our frail and sinful state. O happy, happy hour! when mortality and sin being taken out of our natures, we shall not only behold the glorified angels without fear, but the glorious God with delight and love. Lord! let me now see thee by faith, hereafter by sight. Sit in alio seculo, non in hoc! visio tua, merces mea. Gerson.