Luke 1:30-33
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The angel assures Mary, "Do not be afraid." This isn't just a general comfort; it directly addresses her alarm at his supernatural appearance and his astonishing greeting. He reassures her that her reaction is understandable, but that the divine favor she has found with God means she has nothing to fear from this divine encounter.
The angel Gabriel has just appeared to a young virgin named Mary in the obscure town of Nazareth, startling her with his greeting and causing her to wonder what it all means. He's just declared she's "highly favored" and "blessed among women," which has understandably left her uneasy and perplexed. Now, Gabriel immediately reassures her, calming her fear by explaining that she has God's special favor and is about to receive truly good news.
Mary’s life was about to change forever. But this wasn't a random event. It was a divine appointment, and the angel’s words reveal God’s intentionality.
The angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, "Hail, thou who art highly favored! The Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28), wasn't just a pleasantry. It was a declaration that Mary had been chosen by God for an extraordinary purpose. The phrase "found favor with God" is key here. It means she had found grace, a special kindness and good-will from God, not because she earned it, but because God’s sovereign choice rested upon her.
This encounter wasn't a surprise to God; it was part of His plan. The angel’s reassurance, "Do not be afraid," wasn't just to calm Mary’s immediate fear of seeing an angel, but to address the overwhelming implications of God’s favor. This favor wasn't a passive thing; it was an active selection for a monumental task: to be the mother of Jesus.
Why Mary? The Bible doesn't suggest she was perfect or had earned this calling. So, what does 'found favor' truly mean in this context?
The concept of 'finding favor' with God, as the angel Gabriel announced to Mary, points to God’s unmerited grace. It wasn't that Mary possessed some special quality that made her deserving above all others. Instead, God, in His infinite wisdom and love, chose to bestow His favor upon her.
This is a crucial distinction. While Mary was a virgin who was 'betrothed' (engaged) to Joseph and was clearly a godly young woman, her selection wasn't based on her resume. It was an act of God’s initiative. The ancient commentators highlight that 'finding favor' means that God’s kindness was freely offered to her. This emphasizes that the foundation of salvation and God’s plan lies in His gracious choice, not in human merit or effort. It’s a reminder that God often chooses the seemingly ordinary to accomplish extraordinary things, demonstrating His power and glory.
Understand the original words
mē phobou · Greek Verb
In a biblical context, this is a divine command given by angels to humans to calm their hearts, indicating that the presence of God or His message is not meant to bring harm, but rather carries a holy, often life-altering purpose.
charis · Greek Noun
A term describing God’s gracious disposition toward an individual, where He bestows blessings and chooses a person for a specific task or relationship based solely on His own character rather than the person's merit.
syllēpsē · Greek Verb
To become pregnant; in Scripture, this is frequently highlighted as a miraculous act of God's sovereign creative power.
Iēsoun · Greek Noun
This announcement to Mary wasn't in isolation but the beginning of a chain of miraculous events, revealing God's unfolding plan to bring His Son into the world through humble, faithful people.
c. 20-18 BC
Mary and Joseph Betrothed
Mary, a young woman, is betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter from the line of David. This betrothal period in Jewish custom was a legally binding commitment, but the couple lived separately until the marriage.
c. 18-17 BC— this verse
Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary
The angel Gabriel appears to Mary in Nazareth, announcing that she will conceive a son through the Holy Spirit, who will be the Son of God and heir to David's throne.
c. 17 BC
Mary Visits Elizabeth
Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant. During this visit, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaims Mary blessed among women.
c. 17-16 BC
Joseph Learns of Mary's Pregnancy
Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant before they have come together. He plans to divorce her quietly to protect her from public shame, but an angel appears to him in a dream, explaining the miraculous conception.
This verse introduces the concept of finding favor with God, similar to Mary, setting a precedent for God's gracious selection of individuals.
Exodus 33:12Moses also appeals to having found favor with God, highlighting the personal relationship and divine knowledge that precedes God's special blessings and guidance.
Ruth 2:10Ruth's response mirrors Mary's situation, as she also inquires about how she found favor, showing that divine favor often comes unexpectedly and through God's sovereign choice.
1 Samuel 2:26This verse speaks to the continuous growth in favor with both God and man, a principle that would also apply to Mary's unique situation and public role.
Acts 7:46Stephen echoes the language of finding favor with God when recounting David's story, demonstrating that this divine approval is a recurring theme throughout salvation history.
barnesLuke 1:30: "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God."
Fear not, Mary - Do not be alarmed at this appearance of an angel. He only comes to announce to you good tidings. Similar language was addressed by an angel to Joseph. See the notes at Matthew 1:20 . Thou hast found favour with God - Eminent favor or mercy in being selected to be the mother of the Messiah.
calvinLuke 1:26-33: "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,"
- Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27. To a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28. And the angel, coming in to her, said, Hail, thou who hast found favor, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29. But when she had seen him, she was agit…
The angel assures Mary, "Do not be afraid." This isn't just a general comfort; it directly addresses her alarm at his supernatural appearance and his astonishing greeting. He reassures her that her reaction is understandable, but that the divine favor she has found with God means she has nothing to fear from this divine encounter.
The angel Gabriel has just appeared to a young virgin named Mary in the obscure town of Nazareth, startling her with his greeting and causing her to wonder what it all means. He's just declared she's "highly favored" and "blessed among women," which has understandably left her uneasy and perplexed. Now, Gabriel immediately reassures her, calming her fear by explaining that she has God's special favor and is about to receive truly good news.
The angel Gabriel has just appeared to a young virgin named Mary in the obscure town of Nazareth, startling her with his greeting and causing her to wonder what it all means. He's just declared she's "highly favored" and "blessed among women," which has understandably left her uneasy and perplexed. Now, Gabriel immediately reassures her, calming her fear by explaining that she has God's special favor and is about to receive truly good news.
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The personal name meaning 'the Lord saves' or 'Yahweh is salvation,' given by God to the Messiah.
Huios · Greek Noun
The second person of the Trinity; a title signifying divine nature, messianic office, and a unique relationship to the Father.
Hypsistou · Greek Noun
A title for God (El Elyon) emphasizing His supreme sovereignty, exaltation, and authority over all other powers.
thronon · Greek Noun
The seat of authority representing sovereign rule and judicial power; in the Davidic covenant, it refers to the eternal, Messianic dominion over God's people.
Dauid · Greek Noun
A reference to the covenant promise that the Messiah would be a descendant of David and inherit the royal authority and kingdom throne promised to him.
basileias · Greek Noun
A political and spiritual realm under the governance of a King; in Scripture, it refers to God's redemptive rule.
c. 17-16 BC
Birth of John the Baptist
Elizabeth gives birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, fulfilling a separate miraculous promise.
c. 16 BC
Birth of Jesus in Bethlehem
Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for a Roman census, and Jesus is born in humble circumstances, fulfilling prophecies.
"And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most Hi…" — The angel assures Mary, "Do not be afraid." This isn't just a general comfort; it directly addresses her alarm at his supernatural appearance and his astonishing greeting. He reassures her that her r…
