Luke 1 — Clausal Layout (Greek)

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

Ἐπειδήπερ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν ἀνατάξασθαι διήγησιν περὶ τῶν πεπληροφορημένων ἐν ἡμῖν πραγμάτων,cause — forward-leaning causal protasis — ἐπειδήπερ, a NT hapax of literary register; leans on ἔδοξε

καθὼς παρέδοσαν ἡμῖν οἱ ἀπ' ἀρχῆς αὐτόπται καὶ ὑπηρέται γενόμενοι τοῦ λόγου,comparative — the compiling measured against the tradition — αὐτόπται who became ὑπηρέται τοῦ λόγου

ἔδοξε κἀμοὶ παρηκολουθηκότι ἄνωθεν πᾶσιν ἀκριβῶςindependent — the period's one main verb — κἀμοί ranks Luke with the πολλοί; παρηκολουθηκότι, his credentials in a participle

καθεξῆς σοι γράψαι, κράτιστε Θεόφιλε,content — complementary infinitive — καθεξῆς, Luke's programmatic 'in order'; the dedicatee addressed as an official

ἵνα ἐπιγνῷς περὶ ὧν κατηχήθης λόγων τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.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

Ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου βασιλέως τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἱερεύς τις ὀνόματι Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά,independent — the Septuagintal ἐγένετο opens — the style drops from Attic period to biblical narrative in one verse

καὶ γυνὴ αὐτῷ ἐκ τῶν θυγατέρων Ἀαρών,independent — verbless possession clause — priestly descent on both sides

καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς Ἐλισάβετ.independent — verbless naming formula — she bears the name of Aaron's own wife (Exod 6:23 LXX Ἐλισάβεθ)

ἦσαν δὲ δίκαιοι ἀμφότεροι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ,independent — δίκαιοι ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ — the LXX idiom (Gen 7:1): the childlessness is no judgment

πορευόμενοι ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐντολαῖς καὶ δικαιώμασιν τοῦ κυρίου ἄμεμπτοι.participial — the Hebraic 'walking' of conduct — ἄμεμπτοι predicative at the clause's end

καὶ οὐκ ἦν αὐτοῖς τέκνον,independent — the barrenness motif — Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah stand behind the sentence

καθότι ἦν ἡ Ἐλισάβετ στεῖρα,cause — καθότι — a causal conjunction found only in Luke–Acts

καὶ ἀμφότεροι προβεβηκότες ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῶν ἦσαν.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

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ ἱερατεύειν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ τάξει τῆς ἐφημερίας αὐτοῦ ἔναντι τοῦ θεοῦ,independent — ἐγένετο-frame with ἐν τῷ + infinitive of time — the wayehî construction, pure Septuagint

κατὰ τὸ ἔθος τῆς ἱερατείας ἔλαχε τοῦ θυμιᾶσαιindependent — asyndetic main verb inside the frame — the once-in-a-lifetime lot; genitive articular infinitive

εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ κυρίου,participial — following participle — into the ναός itself, the holy place

καὶ πᾶν τὸ πλῆθος ἦν τοῦ λαοῦ προσευχόμενον ἔξω τῇ ὥρᾳ τοῦ θυμιάματος.independent — periphrastic imperfect — the scene split: one man inside, all Israel praying outside

ὤφθη δὲ αὐτῷ ἄγγελος κυρίουindependent — ὤφθη — the LXX theophany verb (Gen 12:7)

ἑστὼς ἐκ δεξιῶν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ θυμιάματος.participial — the favorable right side — the vision placed with cultic precision

καὶ ἐταράχθη Ζαχαρίας ἰδών,independent — ἰδών kept internal — the seeing itself is the shock

καὶ φόβος ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ' αὐτόν.independent — φόβος ἐπέπεσεν — the LXX formula for numinous dread (Gen 15:12)

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

εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ ἄγγελος·independent — the speech-frame — εἶπεν πρός, Luke's favored construction

Μὴ φοβοῦ, Ζαχαρία,content — the annunciation formula opens — μὴ φοβοῦ as to Abraham (Gen 15:1)

διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου,cause — divine passive — which prayer, for a son or for Israel? The answer will be both

καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλισάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι,content — the birth-oracle pattern (Gen 17:19)

καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην.content — the name given from heaven — Ἰωάννης, 'YHWH has been gracious'

καὶ ἔσται χαρά σοι καὶ ἀγαλλίασις,content — χαρά — Luke's keynote word sounds first here

καὶ πολλοὶ ἐπὶ τῇ γενέσει αὐτοῦ χαρήσονται.content — the private answer widens to the many

ἔσται γὰρ μέγας ἐνώπιον τοῦ κυρίου,cause — the grounds of the joy — greatness measured ἐνώπιον κυρίου

καὶ οἶνον καὶ σίκερα οὐ μὴ πίῃ,cause — the Nazirite-Samson clause (Judg 13:4; Num 6:3) — emphatic οὐ μή

καὶ πνεύματος ἁγίου πλησθήσεται ἔτι ἐκ κοιλίας μητρὸς αὐτοῦ,cause — filled in place of wine — enacted at v. 41 when the unborn child leaps

καὶ πολλοὺς τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐπιστρέψει ἐπὶ κύριον τὸν θεὸν αὐτῶν.content — ἐπιστρέψει — the Elijah task begins (Mal 3:24 LXX)

καὶ αὐτὸς προελεύσεται ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ ἐν πνεύματι καὶ δυνάμει Ἠλίου,content — ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ — before the Lord God just named; the forerunner's office

ἐπιστρέψαι καρδίας πατέρων ἐπὶ τέκνα καὶ ἀπειθεῖς ἐν φρονήσει δικαίων,purpose — Mal 3:23–24 LXX (4:5–6) — the Elijah errand quoted

ἑτοιμάσαι κυρίῳ λαὸν κατεσκευασμένον.purpose — second purpose infinitive — ἑτοιμάσαι, the Isaian 'prepare' (Isa 40:3)

vv. 18–20 — the doubt and the muting

καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον·independent — the reply-frame

Κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο;content — Abraham's own question (Gen 15:8 LXX κατὰ τί γνώσομαι) — but asked after the oracle, and counted unbelief

ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτηςcause — the grounds of doubt — emphatic ἐγώ

καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς.cause — verbless — the participle stands as predicate; Gen 18:11 again

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ·independent — the redundant ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν — the Septuagintal answering-formula

Ἐγώ εἰμι Γαβριὴλ ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ,content — Ἐγώ εἰμι against ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι — the angel of Dan 8:16; 9:21 names himself

καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρὸς σὲ καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα·content — εὐαγγελίσασθαι — the gospel-verb's first occurrence in Luke

καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆσαιcontent — periphrastic future — the sign given is a sentence

ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα,conditional — temporal ἄχρι-clause (typed cnd) with attracted ἧς — the muteness has a term

ἀνθ' ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου,cause — ἀνθ' ὧν — 'in return for which': the muting is measured requital

οἵτινες πληρωθήσονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν.relative — the words will keep their own καιρός whether believed or not

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

Καὶ ἦν ὁ λαὸς προσδοκῶν τὸν Ζαχαρίαν,independent — periphrastic imperfect — the scene returns outside

καὶ ἐθαύμαζον ἐν τῷ χρονίζειν ἐν τῷ ναῷ αὐτόν.independent — ἐν τῷ + infinitive again — 'at his delaying,' causal-temporal

ἐξελθὼν δὲparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἐδύνατο

οὐκ ἐδύνατο λαλῆσαι αὐτοῖς,independent — the sentence takes effect on stage

καὶ ἐπέγνωσανindependent — the crowd reads the sign

ὅτι ὀπτασίαν ἑώρακεν ἐν τῷ ναῷ·content — perfect ἑώρακεν — the vision's effect persists visibly

καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν διανεύων αὐτοῖς,independent — periphrastic — the priest reduced to gesture; the blessing he owed the people goes unspoken

καὶ διέμενεν κωφός.independent — διέμενεν — durative: the condition settles in for nine months

καὶ ἐγένετοindependent — the wayehî frame flush-left

ὡς ἐπλήσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς λειτουργίας αὐτοῦ,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd) — ἐπλήσθησαν, Luke's fulfilment verb; leans on ἀπῆλθεν

ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.independent — asyndetic main verb inside the ἐγένετο-frame

vv. 24–25 — Elizabeth conceives

Μετὰ δὲ ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας συνέλαβεν Ἐλισάβετ ἡ γυνὴ αὐτοῦ·independent — the promise takes flesh

καὶ περιέκρυβεν ἑαυτὴν μῆνας πέντε,independent — περιέκρυβεν — the five months that make the 'sixth month' of v. 26 a marked time

λέγουσαparticipial — speech-participle — the frame for her private praise

ὅτι Οὕτως μοι πεποίηκεν κύριος ἐν ἡμέραις αἷς ἐπεῖδενcontent — recitative ὅτι; ἐπεῖδεν — the gracious 'looking' of Gen 30:23, Rachel's word

ἀφελεῖν ὄνειδός μου ἐν ἀνθρώποις.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

Ἐν δὲ τῷ μηνὶ τῷ ἕκτῳ ἀπεστάλη ὁ ἄγγελος Γαβριὴλ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς πόλιν τῆς Γαλιλαίαςindependent — the sixth month of v. 24's hiding — the two annunciations clocked together

ᾗ ὄνομα Ναζαρὲθrelative — verbless dative-of-possession relative — the unheard-of village named

πρὸς παρθένον ἐμνηστευμένην ἀνδρὶphrase modifier — the mission's true goal-phrase — παρθένος, doubled below, carries Isa 7:14 LXX

ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰωσὴφ ἐξ οἴκου Δαυίδ,relative — ἐξ οἴκου Δαυίδ read with Joseph — the Davidic claim runs through the legal father

καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς παρθένου Μαριάμ.independent — verbless naming formula — the narrative's weight settles on her

καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴνparticipial — preposed participle — leans on εἶπεν

εἶπεν·independent — the speech-frame

Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη,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

ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ.content — verbless — the greeting to Gideon (Judg 6:12)

ἡ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ διεταράχθηindependent — διεταράχθη — stronger than Zechariah's ἐταράχθη; troubled at the word, not the apparition

καὶ διελογίζετοindependent — conative imperfect — turning it over

ποταπὸς εἴη ὁ ἀσπασμὸς οὗτος.content — indirect question with optative εἴη — the preface's classical register surfaces inside the Semitic narrative

vv. 30–33 — the announcement of Jesus

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτῇ·independent — the annunciation proper begins

Μὴ φοβοῦ, Μαριάμ,content — the formula again — addressed by name

εὗρες γὰρ χάριν παρὰ τῷ θεῷ·cause — εὗρες χάριν — Noah's phrase (Gen 6:8); the grounds of κεχαριτωμένη

καὶ ἰδοὺ συλλήμψῃ ἐν γαστρὶcontent — Isa 7:14 LXX begins — ἰδοὺ… ἐν γαστρί

καὶ τέξῃ υἱόν,content — the oracle continues Isaiah's wording

καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦν.content — the naming command as to Zechariah — Ἰησοῦς, 'YHWH saves'

οὗτος ἔσται μέγαςcontent — asyndeton — μέγας without qualification, where John was great 'before the Lord' (v. 15)

καὶ υἱὸς ὑψίστου κληθήσεται,content — κληθήσεται — named what he is; ὕψιστος, Luke's favored divine title

καὶ δώσει αὐτῷ κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὸν θρόνον Δαυὶδ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ,content — 2 Sam 7:12–16 — the Nathan oracle re-spoken

καὶ βασιλεύσει ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Ἰακὼβ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας,content — the everlasting reign (Mic 4:7)

καὶ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔσται τέλος.content — Dan 7:14 — the clause the creed took verbatim

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

εἶπεν δὲ Μαριὰμ πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον·independent — her one question

Πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο,content — πῶς, not Zechariah's κατὰ τί — how, not whether; asked toward revelation, not proof

ἐπεὶ ἄνδρα οὐ γινώσκω;cause — the euphemistic present — her betrothal not yet consummated

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ·independent — ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν again — the Septuagintal formula

Πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ,content — ἐπελεύσεται — the verb of Acts 1:8: Pentecost's grammar anticipated

καὶ δύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι·content — ἐπισκιάσει — the cloud over the tabernacle (Exod 40:35 LXX)

διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται υἱὸς θεοῦ.content — διό draws the inference; ἅγιον read as predicate ('called holy'), υἱὸς θεοῦ in apposition

καὶ ἰδοὺ Ἐλισάβετ ἡ συγγενίς σου καὶ αὐτὴ συνείληφεν υἱὸν ἐν γήρει αὐτῆς,content — the unasked-for sign — the two stories joined by kinship

καὶ οὗτος μὴν ἕκτος ἐστὶν αὐτῇ τῇ καλουμένῃ στείρᾳ·content — τῇ καλουμένῃ στείρᾳ — the label revoked

ὅτι οὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα.cause — Gen 18:14 LXX to Sarah; παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ read with the earliest text (against παρὰ τῷ θεῷ)

εἶπεν δὲ Μαριάμ·independent — the consent-frame

Ἰδοὺ ἡ δούλη κυρίου·content — verbless self-presentation — δούλη, Hannah's word for herself (1 Sam 1:11)

γένοιτό μοι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμά σου.content — volitive optative γένοιτο — the consent on which the narrative turns; ῥῆμα answers v. 37

καὶ ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ' αὐτῆς ὁ ἄγγελος.independent — the scene closes as Gabriel's errand ends

The visitation 1:39–45

vv. 39–41 — the journey and the leap

Ἀναστᾶσα δὲ Μαριὰμ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταιςparticipial — preposed aorist participle — the Septuagintal 'she arose and went'; leans on ἐπορεύθη

ἐπορεύθη εἰς τὴν ὀρεινὴν μετὰ σπουδῆς εἰς πόλιν Ἰούδα,independent — μετὰ σπουδῆς — haste that answers the sign of v. 36

καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ζαχαρίουindependent — the mute priest's house

καὶ ἠσπάσατο τὴν Ἐλισάβετ.independent — the ἀσπασμός that triggers everything following

καὶ ἐγένετοindependent — the wayehî frame flush-left again

ὡς ἤκουσεν τὸν ἀσπασμὸν τῆς Μαρίας ἡ Ἐλισάβετ,conditional — temporal ὡς (typed cnd) — leans on ἐσκίρτησεν

ἐσκίρτησεν τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ αὐτῆς,independent — ἐσκίρτησεν — the verb of Rebekah's twins (Gen 25:22 LXX); v. 15's promise kept in utero

καὶ ἐπλήσθη πνεύματος ἁγίου ἡ Ἐλισάβετ,independent — the Spirit-filling that makes the next words prophecy

vv. 42–45 — the double beatitude

καὶ ἀνεφώνησεν κραυγῇ μεγάλῃindependent — ἀναφωνέω — the LXX verb of liturgical acclamation (1 Chr 15:28)

καὶ εἶπεν·independent — the frame for the chapter's first beatitudes

Εὐλογημένη σὺ ἐν γυναιξίν,content — verbless — the Hebrew superlative (Judg 5:24, of Jael); the line the Byzantine text copies back into v. 28

καὶ εὐλογημένος ὁ καρπὸς τῆς κοιλίας σου.content — καρπὸς κοιλίας — Deut 28:4

καὶ πόθεν μοι τοῦτοcontent — verbless — the deferential astonishment of 2 Sam 24:21

ἵνα ἔλθῃ ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου πρὸς ἐμέ;content — epexegetic ἵνα unpacking τοῦτο — ἡ μήτηρ τοῦ κυρίου μου echoes 2 Sam 6:9, the ark's arrival

ἰδοὺ γὰρ ὡς ἐγένετο ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ ἀσπασμοῦ σου εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου,conditional — temporal ὡς with ἰδοὺ γάρ prefixed (typed cnd) — grounds the question; leans on ἐσκίρτησεν

ἐσκίρτησεν ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει τὸ βρέφος ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ μου.content — the unborn prophet's testimony repeated to Mary — ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει, v. 14's word

καὶ μακαρία ἡ πιστεύσασαcontent — verbless beatitude — μακαρία set against Zechariah's unbelief

ὅτι ἔσται τελείωσις τοῖς λελαλημένοις αὐτῇ παρὰ κυρίου.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

καὶ εἶπεν Μαριάμ·independent — Μαριάμ read with virtually all witnesses; a few Old Latin manuscripts ascribe the canticle to Elizabeth — noted, not adopted

Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον,content — Hannah's opening re-sung (1 Sam 2:1; Ps 34:3) — present tense

καὶ ἠγαλλίασεν τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου,content — Hab 3:18 — the aorist beside the present, Hebrew parallelism's tense-pair

ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούλης αὐτοῦ.cause — 1 Sam 1:11 LXX nearly verbatim — Hannah's vow-prayer; δούλη answers v. 38

ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσίν με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί,content — Leah's cry (Gen 30:13); ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν, Luke's pivot-of-time formula — Elizabeth's μακαρία already the first fulfilment

ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι μεγάλα ὁ δυνατός,cause — Deut 10:21 — ὁ δυνατός, the Mighty One (Zeph 3:17)

καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,cause — verbless colon (Ps 111:9) — coordinate within the ὅτι-grounds

καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν.content — Ps 103:17, verbless — ἔλεος, the canticle's covenant keyword, first sounding

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

Ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ,content — Ps 89:10 — the exodus arm; the aorists of vv. 51–53 read as gnomic/Semitic perfective: what God characteristically has done

διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτῶν·content — the first overthrow — scattered precisely where they are strong, ἐν διανοίᾳ

καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνωνcontent — 1 Sam 2:7–8; Job 12:19 — thrones emptied

καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς,content — ταπεινούς — the ταπείνωσις of v. 48 made a class

πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶνcontent — Ps 107:9; 1 Sam 2:5 — Hannah's table-reversal

καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς.content — κενούς last — the strophe closes empty-handed

vv. 54–55 — covenant mercy remembered

ἀντελάβετο Ἰσραὴλ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ,content — Isa 41:8–9 LXX — ἀντελάβετο, the taking-by-the-hand verb

μνησθῆναι ἐλέους,purpose — infinitive of purpose — 'so as to remember mercy' (Ps 98:3)

καθὼς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν,comparative — parenthetical καθώς — the remembering keeps a spoken promise

τῷ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.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

Ἔμεινεν δὲ Μαριὰμ σὺν αὐτῇ ὡς μῆνας τρεῖς,independent — three months — to the eve of John's birth

καὶ ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτῆς.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

Τῇ δὲ Ἐλισάβετ ἐπλήσθη ὁ χρόνος τοῦ τεκεῖν αὐτήν,independent — ἐπλήσθη — the fulfilment verb again; genitive articular infinitive

καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν.independent — the promise of v. 13 kept in four words

καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ περίοικοι καὶ οἱ συγγενεῖς αὐτῆςindependent — the audience for the naming-scene assembles

ὅτι ἐμεγάλυνεν κύριος τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτῆς,content — ἐμεγάλυνεν ἔλεος, 'magnified mercy' (Gen 19:19 LXX) — the Magnificat's two keywords in narrative prose

καὶ συνέχαιρον αὐτῇ.independent — imperfect — v. 14's promised communal joy arrives

vv. 59–63 — the naming contested and settled

Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃindependent — the ἐγένετο-frame with its time-phrase — circumcision day (Gen 17:12)

ἦλθον περιτεμεῖν τὸ παιδίον,independent — asyndetic main verb inside the frame; the purpose infinitive kept internal

καὶ ἐκάλουν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ζαχαρίαν.independent — conative imperfect ἐκάλουν — 'were trying to call'; custom presumes

καὶ ἀποκριθεῖσα ἡ μήτηρ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν·independent — ἀποκριθεῖσα εἶπεν — the formula; Elizabeth knows the name unprompted

Οὐχί,content — the bare verbless refusal

ἀλλὰ κληθήσεται Ἰωάννης.content — the heaven-given name of v. 13 asserted

καὶ εἶπαν πρὸς αὐτὴνindependent — the family objects

ὅτι Οὐδείς ἐστιν ἐκ τῆς συγγενείας σουcontent — recitative ὅτι — kinship as the rule of naming

ὃς καλεῖται τῷ ὀνόματι τούτῳ.relative — the objection's relative clause — no Ἰωάννης in the family

ἐνένευον δὲ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦindependent — iterative imperfect — the household already treats him as deaf as well as mute

τὸ τί ἂν θέλοι καλεῖσθαι αὐτό.content — articular indirect question with potential optative θέλοι — the classical register again (cf. v. 29)

καὶ αἰτήσας πινακίδιονparticipial — preposed participle — leans on ἔγραψεν

ἔγραψεν λέγων·independent — 'wrote saying' — the Septuagintal pleonasm (2 Kgs 10:6)

Ἰωάννης ἐστὶν ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.content — ἐστίν, not 'shall be' — the name already is; both parents concur against the kin

καὶ ἐθαύμασαν πάντες.independent — the marvel — before the greater sign follows

ἀνεῴχθη δὲ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ παραχρῆμα καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτοῦ,independent — zeugma — ἀνεῴχθη fits the mouth, is stretched to the tongue; παραχρῆμα, Luke's 'immediately'

καὶ ἐλάλειindependent — inceptive imperfect — v. 20's ἄχρι-term expires on schedule

εὐλογῶν τὸν θεόν.participial — the first speech is praise — the Benedictus about to be given in full

vv. 65–66 — awe in the hill country

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπὶ πάντας φόβος τοὺς περιοικοῦντας αὐτούς,independent — φόβος — the numinous dread of v. 12 now general

καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ὀρεινῇ τῆς Ἰουδαίας διελαλεῖτο πάντα τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα,independent — iterative passive imperfect — the story travels the ὀρεινή of v. 39

καὶ ἔθεντο πάντες οἱ ἀκούσαντες ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν,independent — ἔθεντο ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ — the LXX idiom (1 Sam 21:12); anticipates Mary at 2:19, 51

λέγοντες·participial — speech-participle

Τί ἄρα τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο ἔσται;content — ἄρα — the inferential 'then': the signs demand a future

καὶ γὰρ χεὶρ κυρίου ἦν μετ' αὐτοῦ.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

Καὶ Ζαχαρίας ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ ἐπλήσθη πνεύματος ἁγίουindependent — the filling promised over John (v. 15) comes first upon the father

καὶ ἐπροφήτευσεν λέγων·independent — the canticle framed explicitly as prophecy

Εὐλογητὸς κύριος ὁ θεὸς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ,content — the berakah formula, verbless — Ps 41:13; 72:18; 106:48, the doxologies that close the Psalter's books

ὅτι ἐπεσκέψατοcause — ἐπεσκέψατο — the visitation verb (Exod 4:31); aorist, answered by the future of v. 78

καὶ ἐποίησεν λύτρωσιν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ,cause — λύτρωσις (Ps 111:9) — exodus language for what is now beginning

καὶ ἤγειρεν κέρας σωτηρίας ἡμῖν ἐν οἴκῳ Δαυὶδ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ,cause — κέρας σωτηρίας — Ps 18:2; 1 Sam 2:10, Hannah's closing line; the Davidic child, not John

καθὼς ἐλάλησεν διὰ στόματος τῶν ἁγίων ἀπ' αἰῶνος προφητῶν αὐτοῦ,comparative — the raising keyed to prophecy — the καθώς parenthesis before the apposition resumes

σωτηρίαν ἐξ ἐχθρῶν ἡμῶν καὶ ἐκ χειρὸς πάντων τῶν μισούντων ἡμᾶς,phrase modifier — accusative in apposition to κέρας σωτηρίας across the parenthesis (Ps 106:10)

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

ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετὰ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶνpurpose — purpose infinitive of the raising — ποιῆσαι ἔλεος μετά, the Hebraism 'do mercy with' (Gen 24:12)

καὶ μνησθῆναι διαθήκης ἁγίας αὐτοῦ,purpose — μνησθῆναι again (cf. v. 54) — Ps 105:8; 106:45

ὅρκον ὃν ὤμοσεν πρὸς Ἀβραὰμ τὸν πατέρα ἡμῶν,phrase modifier — apposition to διαθήκης — ὅρκον drawn into the accusative by inverse attraction to ὅν (Gen 22:16–18)

τοῦ δοῦναι ἡμῖνpurpose — genitive articular infinitive — the oath's content unpacked

ἀφόβως ἐκ χειρὸς ἐχθρῶν ῥυσθέντας λατρεύειν αὐτῷcontent — the granted thing — λατρεύειν, cultic service; ἀφόβως fronted: worship without fear is the oath's point

ἐν ὁσιότητι καὶ δικαιοσύνῃ ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ πάσαις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἡμῶν.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

Καὶ σὺ δέ, παιδίον, προφήτης ὑψίστου κληθήσῃ,content — the turn to the infant — προφήτης ὑψίστου beside υἱὸς ὑψίστου (v. 32): the two children ranked

προπορεύσῃ γὰρ ἐνώπιον κυρίουcause — Mal 3:1 with Isa 40:3 — the forerunner's grounds

ἑτοιμάσαι ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ,purpose — purpose infinitive — v. 17's ἑτοιμάσαι re-spoken over the child

τοῦ δοῦναι γνῶσιν σωτηρίας τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν ἀφέσει ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν,purpose — coordinate purpose under προπορεύσῃ — salvation redefined: not from enemies (v. 71) but in forgiveness

διὰ σπλάγχνα ἐλέους θεοῦ ἡμῶν,cause — διά + accusative grounds — σπλάγχνα, the visceral mercy-word

ἐν οἷς ἐπισκέψεται ἡμᾶς ἀνατολὴ ἐξ ὕψους,relative — future ἐπισκέψεται printed (against the variant aorist ἐπεσκέψατο); ἀνατολή — dawn and messianic 'Branch' (Jer 23:5; Zech 6:12 LXX) at once

ἐπιφᾶναι τοῖς ἐν σκότει καὶ σκιᾷ θανάτου καθημένοις,purpose — Isa 9:2; Ps 107:10 — the visit's purpose

τοῦ κατευθῦναι τοὺς πόδας ἡμῶν εἰς ὁδὸν εἰρήνης.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

Τὸ δὲ παιδίον ηὔξανενindependent — the Samuel-refrain (1 Sam 2:26) — Luke will repeat it of Jesus (2:40, 52)

καὶ ἐκραταιοῦτο πνεύματι,independent — imperfects of growth

καὶ ἦν ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις ἕως ἡμέρας ἀναδείξεως αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὸν Ἰσραήλ.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.