Sentence Flow · Clause Structure · English

Luke 1 — clausal layoutΚΑΤΑ ΛΟΥΚΑΝ Α′

The same clause-by-clause layout, line-aligned with the Greek edition: each line renders one clause or discrete phrase, colored by the Greek clause's syntactic type, with indentation marking levels of subordination.

independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended

Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)

The preface to Theophilus — one classical period 1:1–4

1
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative concerning the things that have been accomplished among us,cause — forward-leaning causal protasis — ἐπειδήπερ, a NT hapax of literary register; leans on ἔδοξε
2
just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,comparative — the compiling measured against the tradition — αὐτόπται who became ὑπηρέται τοῦ λόγου
3
it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely from the start,independent — the period's one main verb — κἀμοί ranks Luke with the πολλοί; παρηκολουθηκότι, his credentials in a participle
to write them out for you in order, most excellent Theophilus,content — complementary infinitive — καθεξῆς, Luke's programmatic 'in order'; the dedicatee addressed as an official
4
so that you may know the certainty concerning the things you have been taught.purpose — the period's goal — ὧν attracted; ἀσφάλειαν held to the emphatic last position

Zechariah in the temple — the annunciation of John 1:5–25

vv. 5–7 — the priestly couple, righteous and childless

5
In the days of Herod king of Judea there was a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah;independent — the Septuagintal ἐγένετο opens — the style drops from Attic period to biblical narrative in one verse
and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron,independent — verbless possession clause — priestly descent on both sides
and her name was Elizabeth.independent — verbless naming formula — she bears the name of Aaron's own wife (Exod 6:23 LXX Ἐλισάβεθ)
6
And they were both righteous before God,independent — δίκαιοι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ — the LXX idiom (Gen 7:1): the childlessness is no judgment
walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.participial — the Hebraic 'walking' of conduct — ἄμεμπτοι predicative at the clause's end
7
But they had no child,independent — the barrenness motif — Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah stand behind the sentence
because Elizabeth was barren,cause — καθότι — a causal conjunction found only in Luke–Acts
and both were advanced in their days.cause — coordinate within the καθότι-grounds — 'advanced in days,' the Abraham-and-Sarah phrase (Gen 18:11 LXX)

vv. 8–12 — the incense hour and the apparition

8
Now it happened, while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,independent — ἐγένετο-frame with ἐν τῷ + infinitive of time — the wayehî construction, pure Septuagint
9
according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell to him to burn incense,independent — asyndetic main verb inside the frame — the once-in-a-lifetime lot; genitive articular infinitive
entering the temple of the Lord.participial — following participle — into the ναός itself, the holy place
10
And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.independent — periphrastic imperfect — the scene split: one man inside, all Israel praying outside
11
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him,independent — ὤφθη — the LXX theophany verb (Gen 12:7)
standing at the right side of the altar of incense.participial — the favorable right side — the vision placed with cultic precision
12
And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him,independent — ἰδών kept internal — the seeing itself is the shock
and fear fell upon him.independent — φόβος ἐπέπεσεν — the LXX formula for numinous dread (Gen 15:12)

vv. 13–17 — Gabriel's announcement of John

13
But the angel said to him:independent — the speech-frame — εἶπεν πρός, Luke's favored construction
'Do not fear, Zechariah,content — the annunciation formula opens — μὴ φοβοῦ as to Abraham (Gen 15:1)
for your prayer has been heard,cause — divine passive — which prayer, for a son or for Israel? The answer will be both
and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,content — the birth-oracle pattern (Gen 17:19)
and you shall call his name John.content — the name given from heaven — Ἰωάννης, 'YHWH has been gracious'
14
And you will have joy and gladness,content — χαρά — Luke's keynote word sounds first here
and many will rejoice at his birth.content — the private answer widens to the many
15
for he will be great before the Lord,cause — the grounds of the joy — greatness measured ἐνώπιον κυρίου
and he shall drink no wine or strong drink,cause — the Nazirite-Samson clause (Judg 13:4; Num 6:3) — emphatic οὐ μή
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb,cause — filled in place of wine — enacted at v. 41 when the unborn child leaps
16
And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.content — ἐπιστρέψει — the Elijah task begins (Mal 3:24 LXX)
17
And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah,content — ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ — before the Lord God just named; the forerunner's office
to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,purpose — Mal 3:23–24 LXX (4:5–6) — the Elijah errand quoted
to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.purpose — second purpose infinitive — ἑτοιμάσαι, the Isaian 'prepare' (Isa 40:3)

vv. 18–20 — the doubt and the muting

18
And Zechariah said to the angel:independent — the reply-frame
'How shall I know this?content — Abraham's own question (Gen 15:8 LXX κατὰ τί γνώσομαι) — but asked after the oracle, and counted unbelief
For I am an old man,cause — the grounds of doubt — emphatic ἐγώ
and my wife is advanced in her days.'cause — verbless — the participle stands as predicate; Gen 18:11 again
19
And the angel answered him:independent — the redundant ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν — the Septuagintal answering-formula
'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,content — Ἐγώ εἰμι against ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι — the angel of Dan 8:16; 9:21 names himself
and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.content — εὐαγγελίσασθαι — the gospel-verb's first occurrence in Luke
20
And behold, you will be silent and unable to speakcontent — periphrastic future — the sign given is a sentence
until the day these things take place,conditional — temporal ἄχρι-clause (typed cnd) with attracted ἧς — the muteness has a term
because you did not believe my words,cause — ἀνθ' ὧν — 'in return for which': the muting is measured requital
which will be fulfilled in their time.'relative — the words will keep their own καιρός whether believed or not

vv. 21–23 — outside the temple: the sign read

21
And the people were waiting for Zechariah,independent — periphrastic imperfect — the scene returns outside
and they marveled at his delay in the temple.independent — ἐν τῷ + infinitive again — 'at his delaying,' causal-temporal
22
But when he came out,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἐδύνατο
he could not speak to them,independent — the sentence takes effect on stage
and they realizedindependent — the crowd reads the sign
that he had seen a vision in the temple;content — perfect ἑώρακεν — the vision's effect persists visibly
and he kept making signs to themindependent — periphrastic — the priest reduced to gesture; the blessing he owed the people goes unspoken
and remained mute.independent — διέμενεν — durative: the condition settles in for nine months
23
And it happened,independent — the wayehî frame flush-left
when the days of his priestly service were completed,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd) — ἐπλήσθησαν, Luke's fulfilment verb; leans on ἀπῆλθεν
that he went away to his home.independent — asyndetic main verb inside the ἐγένετο-frame

vv. 24–25 — Elizabeth conceives

24
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived,independent — the promise takes flesh
and she kept herself hidden five months,independent — περιέκρυβεν — the five months that make the 'sixth month' of v. 26 a marked time
saying,participial — speech-participle — the frame for her private praise
25
'Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me,content — recitative ὅτι; ἐπεῖδεν — the gracious 'looking' of Gen 30:23, Rachel's word
to take away my reproach among people.'purpose — infinitive of purpose — ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδος, Rachel's phrase verbatim (Gen 30:23 LXX)

The annunciation to Mary 1:26–38

vv. 26–29 — the greeting that troubles

26
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galileeindependent — the sixth month of v. 24's hiding — the two annunciations clocked together
named Nazareth,relative — verbless dative-of-possession relative — the unheard-of village named
27
to a virgin betrothed to a manphrase modifier — the mission's true goal-phrase — παρθένος, doubled below, carries Isa 7:14 LXX
whose name was Joseph, of the house of David;relative — ἐξ οἴκου Δαυίδ read with Joseph — the Davidic claim runs through the legal father
and the virgin's name was Mary.independent — verbless naming formula — the narrative's weight settles on her
28
And coming to herparticipial — preposed participle — leans on εἶπεν
he said:independent — the speech-frame
'Greetings, favored one!content — the wordplay χαῖρε / κεχαριτωμένη — perfect passive, grace already bestowed; the Byzantine 'blessed are you among women' (from v. 42) is omitted with the earliest text
The Lord is with you.'content — verbless — the greeting to Gideon (Judg 6:12)
29
But she was greatly troubled at the saying,independent — διεταράχθη — stronger than Zechariah's ἐταράχθη; troubled at the word, not the apparition
and tried to discernindependent — conative imperfect — turning it over
what sort of greeting this might be.content — indirect question with optative εἴη — the preface's classical register surfaces inside the Semitic narrative

vv. 30–33 — the announcement of Jesus

30
And the angel said to her:independent — the annunciation proper begins
'Do not fear, Mary,content — the formula again — addressed by name
for you have found favor with God.cause — εὗρες χάριν — Noah's phrase (Gen 6:8); the grounds of κεχαριτωμένη
31
And behold, you will conceive in your wombcontent — Isa 7:14 LXX begins — ἰδοὺ… ἐν γαστρί
and bear a son,content — the oracle continues Isaiah's wording
and you shall call his name Jesus.content — the naming command as to Zechariah — Ἰησοῦς, 'YHWH saves'
32
He will be greatcontent — asyndeton — μέγας without qualification, where John was great 'before the Lord' (v. 15)
and will be called the Son of the Most High,content — κληθήσεται — named what he is; ὕψιστος, Luke's favored divine title
and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,content — 2 Sam 7:12–16 — the Nathan oracle re-spoken
33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,content — the everlasting reign (Mic 4:7)
and of his kingdom there will be no end.'content — Dan 7:14 — the clause the creed took verbatim

vv. 34–38 — the question, the answer, the consent

34
And Mary said to the angel:independent — her one question
'How will this be,content — πῶς, not Zechariah's κατὰ τί — how, not whether; asked toward revelation, not proof
since I do not know a man?'cause — the euphemistic present — her betrothal not yet consummated
35
And the angel answered her:independent — ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν again — the Septuagintal formula
'The Holy Spirit will come upon you,content — ἐπελεύσεται — the verb of Acts 1:8: Pentecost's grammar anticipated
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;content — ἐπισκιάσει — the cloud over the tabernacle (Exod 40:35 LXX)
therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.content — διό draws the inference; ἅγιον read as predicate ('called holy'), υἱὸς θεοῦ in apposition
36
And behold, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age,content — the unasked-for sign — the two stories joined by kinship
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.content — τῇ καλουμένῃ στείρᾳ — the label revoked
37
For nothing will be impossible with God.'cause — Gen 18:14 LXX to Sarah; παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ read with the earliest text (against παρὰ τῷ θεῷ)
38
And Mary said:independent — the consent-frame
'Behold, the servant of the Lord;content — verbless self-presentation — δούλη, Hannah's word for herself (1 Sam 1:11)
let it be to me according to your word.'content — volitive optative γένοιτο — the consent on which the narrative turns; ῥῆμα answers v. 37
And the angel departed from her.independent — the scene closes as Gabriel's errand ends

The visitation 1:39–45

vv. 39–41 — the journey and the leap

39
And in those days Mary, arising,participial — preposed aorist participle — the Septuagintal 'she arose and went'; leans on ἐπορεύθη
went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah,independent — μετὰ σπουδῆς — haste that answers the sign of v. 36
40
and she entered the house of Zechariahindependent — the mute priest's house
and greeted Elizabeth.independent — the ἀσπασμός that triggers everything following
41
And it happened,independent — the wayehî frame flush-left again
when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd) — leans on ἐσκίρτησεν
that the baby leaped in her womb,independent — ἐσκίρτησεν — the verb of Rebekah's twins (Gen 25:22 LXX); v. 15's promise kept in utero
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,independent — the Spirit-filling that makes the next words prophecy

vv. 42–45 — the double beatitude

42
and she exclaimed with a loud cryindependent — ἀναφωνέω — the LXX verb of liturgical acclamation (1 Chr 15:28)
and said:independent — the frame for the chapter's first beatitudes
'Blessed are you among women,content — verbless — the Hebrew superlative (Judg 5:24, of Jael); the line the Byzantine text copies back into v. 28
and blessed is the fruit of your womb!content — καρπὸς κοιλίας — Deut 28:4
43
And why is this granted to me,content — verbless — the deferential astonishment of 2 Sam 24:21
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?content — epexegetic ἵνα unpacking τοῦτο — ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου echoes 2 Sam 6:9, the ark's arrival
44
For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears,conditional — temporal ὡς with ἰδοὺ γάρ prefixed (typed cnd) — grounds the question; leans on ἐσκίρτησεν
the baby leaped for joy in my womb.content — the unborn prophet's testimony repeated to Mary — ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει, v. 14's word
45
And blessed is she who believedcontent — verbless beatitude — μακαρία set against Zechariah's unbelief
that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.'content — ὅτι read as the content of the believing ('that…'), not 'because' — the noted crux

The Magnificat 1:46–56

vv. 46–50 — praise for the regard shown the lowly

46
And Mary said:independent — Μαριάμ read with virtually all witnesses; a few Old Latin manuscripts ascribe the canticle to Elizabeth — noted, not adopted
'My soul magnifies the Lord,content — Hannah's opening re-sung (1 Sam 2:1; Ps 34:3) — present tense
47
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,content — Hab 3:18 — the aorist beside the present, Hebrew parallelism's tense-pair
48
for he has looked upon the lowliness of his servant.cause — 1 Sam 1:11 LXX nearly verbatim — Hannah's vow-prayer; δούλη answers v. 38
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed,content — Leah's cry (Gen 30:13); ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν, Luke's pivot-of-time formula — Elizabeth's μακαρία already the first fulfilment
49
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,cause — Deut 10:21 — ὁ δυνατός, the Mighty One (Zeph 3:17)
and holy is his name,cause — verbless colon (Ps 111:9) — coordinate within the ὅτι-grounds
50
and his mercy is for generations and generations to those who fear him.content — Ps 103:17, verbless — ἔλεος, the canticle's covenant keyword, first sounding

vv. 51–53 — the great reversal, aorist by aorist

51
He has shown strength with his arm;content — Ps 89:10 — the exodus arm; the aorists of vv. 51–53 read as gnomic/Semitic perfective: what God characteristically has done
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;content — the first overthrow — scattered precisely where they are strong, ἐν διανοίᾳ
52
he has brought down rulers from their thronescontent — 1 Sam 2:7–8; Job 12:19 — thrones emptied
and exalted the lowly;content — ταπεινούς — the ταπείνωσις of v. 48 made a class
53
he has filled the hungry with good things,content — Ps 107:9; 1 Sam 2:5 — Hannah's table-reversal
and sent the rich away empty.content — κενούς last — the strophe closes empty-handed

vv. 54–55 — covenant mercy remembered

54
He has helped his servant Israel,content — Isa 41:8–9 LXX — ἀντελάβετο, the taking-by-the-hand verb
in remembrance of his mercy,purpose — infinitive of purpose — 'so as to remember mercy' (Ps 98:3)
55
as he spoke to our fathers,comparative — parenthetical καθώς — the remembering keeps a spoken promise
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.'phrase modifier — dative read with μνησθῆναι ἐλέους ('mercy to Abraham,' Mic 7:20), not with ἐλάλησεν — the construal the layout takes

v. 56 — the return

56
And Mary stayed with her about three months,independent — three months — to the eve of John's birth
and returned to her home.independent — ὑπέστρεψεν — Luke's signature verb of return

The birth and naming of John 1:57–66

vv. 57–58 — the birth and the shared joy

57
Now for Elizabeth the time was fulfilled for her to give birth,independent — ἐπλήσθη — the fulfilment verb again; genitive articular infinitive
and she bore a son.independent — the promise of v. 13 kept in four words
58
And her neighbors and relatives heardindependent — the audience for the naming-scene assembles
that the Lord had shown great mercy to her,content — ἐμεγάλυνεν ἔλεος, 'magnified mercy' (Gen 19:19 LXX) — the Magnificat's two keywords in narrative prose
and they rejoiced with her.independent — imperfect — v. 14's promised communal joy arrives

vv. 59–63 — the naming contested and settled

59
And it happened on the eighth dayindependent — the ἐγένετο-frame with its time-phrase — circumcision day (Gen 17:12)
that they came to circumcise the child,independent — asyndetic main verb inside the frame; the purpose infinitive kept internal
and they were going to call him Zechariah, after the name of his father.independent — conative imperfect ἐκάλουν — 'were trying to call'; custom presumes
60
But his mother answered:independent — ἀποκριθεῖσα εἶπεν — the formula; Elizabeth knows the name unprompted
'No;content — the bare verbless refusal
he shall be called John.'content — the heaven-given name of v. 13 asserted
61
And they said to her:independent — the family objects
'There is no one of your relativescontent — recitative ὅτι — kinship as the rule of naming
who is called by this name.'relative — the objection's relative clause — no Ἰωάννης in the family
62
And they made signs to his father,independent — iterative imperfect — the household already treats him as deaf as well as mute
as to what he wanted him to be called.content — articular indirect question with potential optative θέλοι — the classical register again (cf. v. 29)
63
And asking for a writing tablet,participial — preposed participle — leans on ἔγραψεν
he wrote, saying:independent — 'wrote saying' — the Septuagintal pleonasm (2 Kgs 10:6)
'His name is John.'content — ἐστίν, not 'shall be' — the name already is; both parents concur against the kin
And they all marveled.independent — the marvel — before the greater sign follows
64
And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue,independent — zeugma — ἀνεῴχθη fits the mouth, is stretched to the tongue; παραχρῆμα, Luke's 'immediately'
and he began to speak,independent — inceptive imperfect — v. 20's ἄχρι-term expires on schedule
blessing God.participial — the first speech is praise — the Benedictus about to be given in full

vv. 65–66 — awe in the hill country

65
And fear came upon all who lived around them,independent — φόβος — the numinous dread of v. 12 now general
and all these things were talked about throughout the whole hill country of Judea.independent — iterative passive imperfect — the story travels the ὀρεινή of v. 39
66
And all who heard laid them up in their hearts,independent — ἔθεντο ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ — the LXX idiom (1 Sam 21:12); anticipates Mary at 2:19, 51
saying:participial — speech-participle
'What then will this child be?'content — ἄρα — the inferential 'then': the signs demand a future
For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.cause — narrator's γάρ — anarthrous χεὶρ κυρίου, the fixed OT phrase

The Benedictus — and the growth of the child 1:67–80

vv. 67–71 — blessed be the God who has raised the horn

67
And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spiritindependent — the filling promised over John (v. 15) comes first upon the father
and prophesied, saying:independent — the canticle framed explicitly as prophecy
68
'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,content — the berakah formula, verbless — Ps 41:13; 72:18; 106:48, the doxologies that close the Psalter's books
for he has visitedcause — ἐπεσκέψατο — the visitation verb (Exod 4:31); aorist, answered by the future of v. 78
and accomplished redemption for his people,cause — λύτρωσις (Ps 111:9) — exodus language for what is now beginning
69
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,cause — κέρας σωτηρίας — Ps 18:2; 1 Sam 2:10, Hannah's closing line; the Davidic child, not John
70
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,comparative — the raising keyed to prophecy — the καθώς parenthesis before the apposition resumes
71
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,phrase modifier — accusative in apposition to κέρας σωτηρίας across the parenthesis (Ps 106:10)

vv. 72–75 — the oath to Abraham, purpose upon purpose

72
to show mercy to our fatherspurpose — purpose infinitive of the raising — ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετά, the Hebraism 'do mercy with' (Gen 24:12)
and to remember his holy covenant,purpose — μνησθῆναι again (cf. v. 54) — Ps 105:8; 106:45
73
the oath that he swore to Abraham our father,phrase modifier — apposition to διαθήκης — ὅρκον drawn into the accusative by inverse attraction to ὅν (Gen 22:16–18)
to grant uspurpose — genitive articular infinitive — the oath's content unpacked
74
that we, delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear,content — the granted thing — λατρεύειν, cultic service; ἀφόβως fronted: worship without fear is the oath's point
75
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.phrase modifier — the manner and term of the service — the ladder of vv. 68–75 bottoms out seven levels down

vv. 76–79 — the child addressed: prophet before the dawn

76
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;content — the turn to the infant — προφήτης ὑψίστου beside υἱὸς ὑψίστου (v. 32): the two children ranked
for you will go before the Lordcause — Mal 3:1 with Isa 40:3 — the forerunner's grounds
to prepare his ways,purpose — purpose infinitive — v. 17's ἑτοιμάσαι re-spoken over the child
77
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,purpose — coordinate purpose under προπορεύσῃ — salvation redefined: not from enemies (v. 71) but in forgiveness
78
because of the tender mercy of our God,cause — διά + accusative grounds — σπλάγχνα, the visceral mercy-word
by which the dawn from on high will visit us,relative — future ἐπισκέψεται printed (against the variant aorist ἐπεσκέψατο); ἀνατολή — dawn and messianic 'Branch' (Jer 23:5; Zech 6:12 LXX) at once
79
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,purpose — Isa 9:2; Ps 107:10 — the visit's purpose
to guide our feet into the way of peace.'purpose — the canticle's last word is εἰρήνη — the shining issues in a guided road; a second seven-step ladder

v. 80 — the growth summary

80
And the child grewindependent — the Samuel-refrain (1 Sam 2:26) — Luke will repeat it of Jesus (2:40, 52)
and became strong in spirit,independent — imperfects of growth
and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.independent — the wilderness holds him until 3:2 — ἀνάδειξις, his formal 'showing' to Israel
Analysis. Luke 1 sets the New Testament's two Greeks side by side, and the layout shows the seam. Verses 1–4 are one classical period, the most polished sentence in the NT: the ἐπειδήπερ-protasis leans forward, anchor-less, over its dependent καθώς-clause onto the flush-left main verb ἔδοξε, which hands itself on through the complementary γράψαι to the ἵνα of v. 4 — the whole preface hangs from a single purple line and ends on its emphatic last word, ἀσφάλειαν. From v. 5 the page turns abruptly Septuagintal: ἐγένετο-frames sit flush left with forward-leaning temporal ὡς-clauses (typed cnd, tagged temporal) and their ἐν τῷ + infinitive time-phrases kept in-line, the narrative mainline runs down the margin in coordinate purple, and all speech hangs blue beneath its verb of saying. Gabriel's two annunciations are built to one skeleton — μὴ φοβοῦ with its διότι/γάρ grounds, the birth-oracle, the naming command — inviting the comparison the text intends: Zechariah's κατὰ τί γνώσομαι (Gen 15:8, counted unbelief and answered with muteness) against Mary's πῶς ἔσται and her ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου. The two canticles are laid as canticles. The Magnificat's cola stand at constant depth under εἶπεν, its aorists of reversal (vv. 51–53) coordinate lines whose 1 Sam 2 echoes the tags trace line by line. The Benedictus twice ladders seven levels deep: from the verbless Εὐλογητός through the ὅτι-grounds to the purpose-infinitives of vv. 72–75 (ὅρκον in inverse attraction, τοῦ δοῦναι, λατρεύειν), and again from προφήτης ὑψίστου down the τοῦ δοῦναι chain to the canticle's last word, εἰρήνης. Cruxes taken: v. 28 omits the Byzantine 'blessed are you among women' (assimilated from v. 42); v. 37 reads παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ; v. 45's ὅτι is read as the content of the believing, not 'because'; v. 46 keeps Μαριάμ against the Old Latin ascription to Elizabeth; v. 55's τῷ Ἀβραάμ is construed with μνησθῆναι ἐλέους, not with ἐλάλησεν; v. 71's σωτηρίαν stands in apposition to κέρας σωτηρίας across the καθώς parenthesis; v. 78 prints the future ἐπισκέψεται, and ἀνατολή is glossed with both its senses, dawn and messianic Branch.