What Luke 1:26-38 Means
Luke 1:26-38 teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by a human father, and that Mary responded in faith and obedience. Gabriel’s message names Jesus as the Son of God and explains why his birth is holy. Early Christian writers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Origen used this passage to defend the virgin birth and Christ’s true identity.
157 early-church witnesses · 245 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What does Luke 1:26-38 mean?
Luke 1:26-38 means that God sent Gabriel to announce Jesus’ miraculous conception to Mary. The child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, born from Mary’s womb, and called holy—the Son of God. Mary’s reply shows humble trust and willing obedience. Early Christian writers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and Methodius used this passage to defend the virgin birth and the real humanity of Jesus.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Passage context
This scene comes near the start of Luke’s Gospel, after the promise of John the Baptist’s birth. Gabriel is sent to Nazareth, tells Mary not to fear, and says she will bear a son named Jesus. Mary asks how this can happen because she has not known a man, and the angel answers that the Holy Spirit will bring about the conception. Mary then accepts God’s word and the angel leaves her.
Why early Christian sources matter
Early Christian writers help show how the first generations after the apostles read this passage. They used Luke 1:26-38 to argue that Jesus was truly born from Mary and truly conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by human seed. Several writers also linked Mary’s obedient response to the undoing of Eve’s disobedience. Their repeated use of the text shows that the virgin conception was a central Christian belief very early on.
Common interpretation points
- The main question in this passage is not whether Mary was chosen, but how Jesus was conceived and what that means for his identity.
- The early Christian material is strong on the virgin conception and the title Son of God.
- Some later liturgical and devotional cards repeat the same wording, but the main doctrinal weight comes from writers like Irenaeus, Justin, Tertullian, Origen, Methodius, Gregory, and Lactantius.
Evidence-Based Summary
Luke 1:26-38 means that God sent Gabriel to tell Mary she would conceive Jesus by the Holy Spirit, and Mary answered with humble trust: “let it be to me according to your word.” The passage teaches both Jesus’ virgin conception and his identity as the Son of God, while also showing Mary’s obedient faith.
Early Christian writers like Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Methodius, Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Lactantius repeatedly used these verses to defend the virgin birth and Christ’s true humanity. The evidence is broad and consistent on the main point, though a few cards are only verse repeats or weak references and were not used as main witnesses.
Key Takeaways
- Luke 1:26-38 teaches that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born from Mary without a human father.
- Mary’s answer is a model of humble trust: she accepts God’s word.
- Early Christian writers consistently used this passage to defend the virgin birth and Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did the early Christians believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit?
Yes. Early Christian writers said Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, not by human seed. They used Luke 1:35 and the nearby birth narrative to defend the virgin conception and Jesus’ divine sonship.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching
for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
And the angel of God who was sent to the same virgin at that time brought her good news, saying, “Behold, thou shalt conceive of the Holy Ghost, and shalt bear a Son, and He shall be called the Son of the Highest, and thou shalt call His name Jesus;
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Short Version) Supporting witness
For our God, Jesus Christ, was, according to the appointment of God, conceived in the womb by Mary, of the seed of David, but by the Holy Ghost.
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness
But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy, when the angel Gabriel announced the good tidings to her that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her: wherefore also the Holy Thing begotten of her is the Son of God;
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
For the Son of God, who was begotten before time began, and established all things according to the will of the Father, He was conceived in the womb of Mary, according to the appointment of God, of the seed of David, and by the Holy Ghost.
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Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ Supporting witness
...e sign of Christ’s birth, as Isaiah says: "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: look, a virgin will conceive and bear a son." Isaiah 7:14 So then, we find what the sign is that will be spoken against: the conception and the giving birth of the Virgin Mary. About this, these sophists say, "She was a virgin and yet not a virgin; she gave birth and yet did not give birth," as though such language, if it must be spoken at all, would not fit us better than them. For she gave birth, because she brought forth offspring from her own flesh. Yet she did not give birth, since she did not bring Him forth from a husband’s seed. She was a virgin in regard to abstaining from a husband, and yet not a virgin in regard to bearing a child. However, there is not the equal line of reasoning that the heretics claim. In other words, it does not follow that, because she did not give birth in one sense, she who was not a virgin was still a virgin, simply because she became a mother without the fruit of her own womb. But with us there is no double meaning, nothing twisted into two senses. Light is light, and darkness is darkness. Yes is yes, and no, no. Whatever is more than these comes from
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Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness
Therefore, the Holy Spirit of God came down from heaven and chose the Holy Virgin, so that He might enter her womb. And she, being filled by the presence of the Divine Spirit, conceived. Without any intercourse with a man, her virgin womb was suddenly made pregnant. But if everyone knows that certain animals are accustomed to conceive by the wind and the breeze, why should anyone think it strange when we say that a virgin was made fruitful by the Spirit of God, for whom whatever He wishes is easy? And this might have seemed unbelievable, if the prophets had not foretold it many ages earlier. Thus Solomon says, "The womb of a virgin was strengthened, and conceived; and a virgin was made fruitful, and became a mother in great pity." Likewise the prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore God Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son; and you shall call His name Emmanuel." What could be more clear than this? The Jews read this, and yet denied Him. If anyone thinks these things were invented by us, let him ask them, and let him take the evidence especially from them. The testimony is strong enough to prove the truth when it is brought forward by
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Justin Martyr, The First Apology Supporting witness
Listen again to how Isaiah explicitly foretold that He would be born of a virgin; for he spoke this way: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son, and they shall call His name, ‘God with us.’” For things that were incredible and seemed impossible to people, these God predicted by the Spirit of prophecy as events that would happen, so that when they did happen, there would be no disbelief, but faith, because of their prediction. But lest some, not understanding the prophecy now referenced, accuse us of the very things we have accused the poets of, who say that Jupiter approached women through lust, let us try to explain the words. This, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive,” means that a virgin would conceive without intercourse. For if she had been with anyone, she would no longer be a virgin; but the power of God came upon the virgin, overshadowed her, and caused her to conceive while still a virgin. And the angel of God who was sent to the same virgin at that time brought her the good news, saying, “Behold, you shall conceive by the Holy Ghost, and you shall bear a Son, and He will be called the Son of the Highest, and you shall call His name Jesus; for He will save His
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Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness
...pel of Luke. From it they try to maintain, not what is true, but only what they want it to be: “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore also the Holy Thing which is born of you shall be called the Son of God.” If, then, they say, the angel of God says to Mary, “that Holy Thing which is born of you,” then the substance of flesh and body is from Mary. But he has set forth that this substance, that is, that Holy Thing which is born of her, is the Son of God. “Man himself,” they say, “and that bodily flesh, that which is called holy, is itself the Son of God.” They also say that when the Scripture says “that Holy Thing,” we should understand Christ the man, the Son of man. And when it sets before us the Son of God, we should understand, not man, but God. And yet the divine Scripture easily convicts and exposes the frauds and artifices of the heretics. For if it had said only this, “The Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore that Holy Thing which is born of you shall be called the Son of God,” perhaps we would have had to strive against them in another way, and seek other argum
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Methodius, Concerning Free Will Supporting witness
...ed among us." John 1:14 From this we learn that, when the angel greeted the Virgin with the words, "Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you," Luke 1:28 he meant to show that God the Word is with you. He also meant to show that He would come forth from her womb and would be made flesh, just as it is written, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35
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Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness
But as the prophets also foretold, it was from a virgin that one was to be born, according to the promised sign. He was to give His name to the event itself, showing that at His birth God was to be with man. Now it seems to me fitting for a Jew to have quoted the prophecy of Isaiah, which says that Immanuel was to be born of a virgin. But Celsus, who claims to know everything, has not done this, either because he did not know it, or because he was unwilling, if he had read it and deliberately passed over it in silence, to provide an argument that might defeat his purpose. And the prophecy says this: "And the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And he said, Hear now, O house of David; is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel," which means, when interpreted, "God with us." And it is clear to me that Celsus did not quote this prophecy out of deliberate malice, because although he m
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Methodius, Fragments Supporting witness
...t among us" (John 1:14). From this we learn that when the angel greeted the Virgin with the words, "Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28), he meant to show that God the Word is with you, and also to show that He would arise from her womb and would be made flesh, just as it is written: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).
More related quotations from this section 10 shown
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Luke 1:35 Direct teaching
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.
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Tertullian, Against Marcion Supporting witness
...o would be unwilling for us to trouble ourselves about food for our life, or clothing for our body, Luke 12:22-28, except Him who has already provided these things for man? Therefore, while He gives them to us, He forbids all anxiety about them, because such anxiety is an insult to His generosity. He has fitted life itself to be better than food. He has formed the substance of the body so that it is more than clothing. His ravens also neither sow nor reap, nor gather into storehouses, and yet they are fed by Him. His lilies and grass also do not toil or spin, and yet they are clothed by Him. Solomon too was supreme in glory, and yet he was not dressed like the lowly flower. Besides, nothing could be more abrupt than that one God should be giving His bounty, while the other tells us to take no thought about such a kind distribution, and does this in order to speak against His generosity. Whether indeed he means to belittle the Creator by not wanting such trifles to be thought about, things for which neither the crows nor the lilies labor, because they come of themselves to hand on account of their very worthlessness, will appear a little further on. Meanwhile, how is it that He r
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...ll this has been done to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel," thus influencing him with the prophet's words and clearing any blame from Mary, showing that she was the virgin mentioned by Isaiah, who would give birth to Emmanuel. When Joseph was fully convinced, he took Mary and joyfully obeyed regarding all the rest of Christ's upbringing, undertaking a journey to Egypt and back, followed by a move to Nazareth. For this reason, those who did not know the Scriptures or God's promise, or the plan of Christ, eventually called him the child's father. For this reason, too, the Lord Himself read the prophecies of Isaiah in Capernaum: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me; He has sent Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and sight to the blind." Showing that He Himself was the one foretold by Isaiah, He said to them: "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your ears."
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Anonymous, Connection to Luke 1:28 Supporting witness
And, behold, a voice saying: Hail, thou who hast received grace; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women!
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Matthew 1:20 Supporting witness
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
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Matthew 1:18 Supporting witness
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
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Gregory Thaumaturgus, Twelve Topics on the Faith Supporting witness
Luke 1:34 Wherefore he says, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of the Highest.
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Gregory Thaumaturgus, Twelve Topics on the Faith Supporting witness
Luke 1:35 And to Joseph he says, Fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
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Methodius, Fragments Supporting witness
John 1:14 From this we learn that the angel, when he saluted the Virgin with the words, Hail, you that are highly favoured, the Lord is with you, Luke 1:28 intended to signify God the Word is with you, and also to show that He would arise from her bosom, and would be made flesh, even as it is written, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you;
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Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Background
...eration? for His life is taken away from the earth,'—does it not seem to you to refer to One who, without descent from men, was handed over to death by God for the sins of the people? Of whose blood Moses, as I mentioned before, used a parable to say He would wash His garments in the blood of the grape; since His blood did not come from human lineage, but from the will of God. And then, what David says, 'In the splendors of Thy holiness have I begotten Thee from the womb, before the morning star. The Lord has sworn, and will not change His mind, Thou art a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek,'—does this not tell you that He existed from of old, and that God, the Father of all, intended Him to be born of a human womb? Speaking in other words, which have also been previously quoted, he says: 'Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Thy God, has anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy companions. [He has anointed Thee] with myrrh, and oil, and cassia from Thy garments, from the ivory palaces, whereby they made Thee glad. The daughters of k
How did early Christians read Mary's response to the angel?
They read Mary’s reply as humble obedience to God’s word. Irenaeus especially used Mary’s faith to contrast her with Eve’s disobedience, and later writers praised her as the servant or handmaid of the Lord.
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Methodius, Concerning Free Will Supporting witness
then indeed, from the time when the angel had saluted the virgin, saying, Hail, you that are highly favoured, the Lord is with you.
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Direct teaching
In line with this plan, Mary the Virgin is found obedient, saying, "Behold the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." But Eve was disobedient; for she did not obey even when she was a virgin. And just as she, having a husband, Adam, but being nevertheless still a virgin (for in Paradise "they were both naked, and were not ashamed," since they, having been created a short time before, had no understanding of having children: for it was necessary that they should first reach adulthood, and then multiply from that time onward), became disobedient, she was the cause of death for both herself and the entire human race. Likewise did Mary, having a man engaged to her, and being nevertheless a virgin, by being obedient, become the cause of salvation for both herself and the whole human race. Because of this, the law calls a woman engaged to a man, the wife of him who had engaged her, even though she was still a virgin; this reveals the connection back from Mary to Eve because what is joined together could not be separated other than by reversing the process by which these bonds were formed, so that the former ties be undone by the latter, allowing the latter to
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Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness
...have received that by which all the fiery darts of the wicked one will be quenched, Ephesians 6:16. Hail! Hail! Mother and handmaid of God. Hail! Hail! You to whom the great Creditor of all is a debtor. We are all debtors to God, but to you He Himself is indebted.
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Methodius, Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna Supporting witness
Hail to you forever, virgin mother of God, our unceasing joy, for I return to you again. You are the beginning of our feast; you are its middle and its end. You are the pearl of great price that belongs to the kingdom. You are the richness of every sacrifice, the living altar of the bread of life. Hail, treasure of the love of God. Hail, fountain of the Son's love for man. Hail, overshadowing mountain of the Holy Spirit. You shone, sweet mother who gives gifts, with the light of the sun. You shone with the unbearable fires of a most fervent love, bringing forth at the end what was conceived in you before the beginning, making known the hidden and unspeakable mystery, the invisible Son of the Father, the Prince of Peace, who in a marvelous way showed Himself to be less than all littleness. Therefore we pray to you, most excellent among women, who glory in the confidence of your honors as a mother, that you would keep us continually in remembrance. O holy mother of God, remember us, I say, who glory in you, and who with solemn hymns celebrate your memory, which will always live and never fade away. And also, O honored and venerable Simeon, earliest host of our holy religion and teach
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness
...ected with a tree through His own obedience on the tree, thus undoing the deception that misled the virgin Eve, who was engaged to a man. This was joyfully announced through the truth spoken by the angel to the Virgin Mary, who was also engaged to a man. Just as the former was led astray by the word of an angel and fled from God after disobeying His command, the latter received the news through an angelic message that she would bear God, being obedient to His word. While the former disobeyed God, the latter chose to be obedient, so that the Virgin Mary might become the advocate for the virgin Eve. Thus, as humanity fell into the captivity of death by a virgin, it is redeemed by a virgin; virginal disobedience is countered by virginal obedience. Similarly, the sin of the first-created man is corrected by the First-begotten, and the serpent's deception is overcome by the innocence of the dove, breaking the chains that bound us to death.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
Luke 1:37 For nothing is 39 difficult for God. Luke 1:38 Mary said, Lo, I am the handmaid of the Lord;
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Luke 1:38 Direct teaching
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
What did Gabriel announce to Mary in Luke 1?
Gabriel told Mary not to fear, said she had found favor with God, and announced that she would conceive a son named Jesus. The passage is the direct biblical basis for the virgin conception and the name and identity of the child.
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Luke 1:26 Direct teaching
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
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Luke 1:28 Supporting witness
And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
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Luke 1:30 Direct teaching
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
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Luke 1:34 Direct teaching
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
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Luke 1:31 Direct teaching
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
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Luke 1:27 Supporting witness
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
More related quotations from this section 5 shown
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
and the virgin's name was Mary. Luke 1:28 And the angel entered unto her and said to her, Peace be unto you, you who are filled with grace.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
Luke 1:30 And the angel said to 32 her, Fear not, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
Luke 1:31 You shall now conceive, 33 and bear a son, and call his name Jesus.
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Origen, Commentary on John Background
... by the Baptist coming to him. It should be noticed that on the earlier occasion, when the sound of Mary's greeting came to Elisabeth's ears, the babe John leaped in his mother's womb. Then Elisabeth received the Holy Spirit, as it were, from the ground. For we read in Luke 1:41-42, "When Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry and said," and so on. In the same way now, John sees Jesus coming to him and says, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." For in matters of great importance, one is first instructed by hearing, and afterward sees them with one's own eyes. That John was helped toward the shape he was to wear by the Lord, who was still being formed in His mother's womb and came to Elisabeth, will be clear to anyone who has grasped our proof that John is a voice, but Jesus is the Word. For when Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit at Mary's greeting, there was a great voice in her, as the words themselves show. For they say, "And she spoke out with a loud voice." Elisabeth plainly did this, and she spoke. For the sound of Mary's
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Background
27 Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month Gabriel the angel was sent from God to Galilee to a 28 city called Nazareth, Luke 1:27 to a virgin given in marriage to a man named Joseph, of the 29 house of David;
Common Questions
Why did Mary ask, 'How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?'
Mary asked because she knew she had not had relations with a man, so she wanted to understand how the promise could happen. The angel answered that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her.
What do early Christian writers say about Jesus being born of a virgin?
They consistently say Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of Mary the virgin. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, and others used Luke 1 and Matthew 1 to defend that teaching.
What is the main point of Luke 1:26-38?
The main point is that Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit and Mary accepts God’s plan in faith.
Did early Christians use Luke 1:26-38 to teach the virgin birth?
Yes. Writers like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Origen, Methodius, Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Lactantius used it that way.
Source Index for Luke 1:26-38
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 245 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 157
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 88
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.