Luke 1 · Verse 23

Luke 1:23

And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Luke 1:23, King James Version

Luke 1:23 in other translations

BSBAnd when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.
WEBWhen the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
ASVAnd it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.
YLTAnd it came to pass, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he went away to his house,
DARBYAnd it came to pass, when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his house.
BBEAnd when the days of his work in the Temple were ended, he went back to his house.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

What does Luke 1:23 mean?

Barnes' Notes
23. As soon as the days of his ministration, &c.

As soon as he had fulfilled the duties of the week. It might have been supposed that the extraordinary occurrence in the temple, together with his own calamity, would have induced him at once to leave this place and return home; but his duty was in the temple. His piety prompted him to remain there in the service of God. He was not unfitted for burning incense by his dumbness, and it was not proper for him to leave his post. It is the duty of ministers of religion to re- main at their work until they are unfitted for it, and unable to serve God in their profession. Then they must retire. But until that time, he that for trifling causes forsakes his post is guilty of unfaithfulness to his Master.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 As soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished - Each family of the priesthood officiated one whole week, 2Kgs 11:17. There is something very instructive in the conduct of this priest; had he not loved the service he was engaged in, he might have made the loss of his speech a pretext for immediately quitting it. But as he was not thereby disabled from fulfilling the sacerdotal function, so he saw he was bound to continue till his ministry was ended; or till God had given him a positive dismission. Preachers who give up their labor in the vineyard because of some trifling bodily disorder by which they are afflicted, or through some inconvenience in outward circumstances, which the follower of a cross-bearing, crucified Lord should not mention, show that they either never had a proper concern for the honor of their Master or for the salvation of men, or else that they have lost the spirit of their Master, and the spirit of their work. Again, Zacharias did not hasten to his house to tell his wife the good news that he had received from heaven, in which she was certainly very much interested: the angel had promised that all his words should be fulfilled in their season, and for this season he patiently waited in the path of duty. He had engaged in the work of the Lord, and must pay no attention to any thing that was likely to mar or interrupt his religious service. Preachers who profess to be called of God to labor in the word and doctrine, and who abandon their work for filthy lucre's sake, are the most contemptible of mortals, and traitors to their God.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:5-25

The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:5-25 →

Luke 1:23 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532
ἐγένετοegenetoit came to passG1096
ὡςhōswhenG5613
ἐπλήσθησανeplēsthēsanwere fulfilledG4130
αἱhaitheG3588
ἡμέραιhēmeraidaysG2250
τῆςtēsof theG3588
λειτουργίαςleitourgiasserviceG3009
αὐτοῦ,autouof him,G846
ἀπῆλθενapēlthenhe departedG565
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
οἶκονoikonhomeG3624
αὐτοῦ.¶autouof him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 1:23

  • 1 Chronicles 9:25

    And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

  • 2 Kings 11:5-7

    And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the days.
2Ki 11:5-7; 1Ch 9:25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 1:22

    And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

  • Luke 1:23

    And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

  • Luke 1:24

    And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y fué, que cumplidos los días de su oficio, se vino á su casa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il arriva que, quand les jours de son ministère furent accomplis, il s’en alla dans sa maison.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah, als die Tage seines Dienstes erfüllt waren, ging er weg nach seinem Hause.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam: