Luke 1:17

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

He will go on ahead of the Messiah [See verse 76], in the spirit and power of Elijah, to rekindle the affections of fathers for their children, and [to influence] disobedient people to live wisely like righteous people. And he will prepare the people to be ready for [the coming of] the Lord.”

Cross References

Matthew 11:14

And if you are willing to accept [this truth], this person [i.e., John] fulfills [the prophecy of] the coming of Elijah [See Mal. 4:5-6].

Luke 1:76

Yes, you [my] child [i.e., John], will be called the prophet of the Highest [i.e., God], for you will go ahead of the Lord’s presence to prepare His ways.

John 3:28

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ [i.e., God’s specially chosen one] but [rather] that I was sent [by God] ahead of Him.’

Revelation 20:4

Then I saw thrones, with individuals sitting on them who had been given [authority] to judge. And I [also] saw the souls of those who had been decapitated because they had testified about Jesus and [had proclaimed] the message of God. [They are] the ones who had refused to worship the beast or his statue, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And these ones lived again and ruled with Christ for a thousand years.

1 Peter 2:9

But you people are especially chosen [by God]; you are a royal body of priests; you are a nation especially set apart for God’s use; you are a people who belong exclusively to God, that you may express the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness [i.e., of sin and error], and into His marvelous light [i.e., righteousness and truth].

Colossians 1:12

[May you] give thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share [i.e., eventually] in the inheritance of the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] in [the kingdom of] light.

2 Timothy 2:21

If a person rids himself of the common ones [i.e., the influences of evil people and qualities], he will be an instrument for [God’s] honor, dedicated, suitable for use by the Master, [and] prepared for [doing] every good deed.

Romans 9:23

[What if He did this] in order to demonstrate His wealth of glory toward people who deserved His mercy, whom He had previously determined should receive [such special] honor?

Acts 10:33

So, I proceeded to send [my men] for you and you have done the right thing in coming [here]. Now, therefore, we are all assembled here before God, to hear everything you were commanded by the Lord [to tell us].”

John 1:34

And I have seen and given testimony that this person is the Son of God.”

John 1:13

[Such people] were born of God, not of blood ties [i.e., from physical descendants], nor of the will of the flesh [i.e., merely from a sexual desire], nor of the will of man [i.e., from a husband’s desire for offspring].

Luke 1:16

And he will influence many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God.

Matthew 14:4

For John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to be married to her.”

1 John 2:28

And now, little children [i.e., dear ones], continue to live in [fellowship with] Christ, so that when He appears, we may have boldness and not have [any reason] to be ashamed in front of Him at His [second] coming.

Matthew 3:4

Now John dressed in clothing made of camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt around his waist; he ate grasshoppers and wild honey [i.e., for his regular diet].

Matthew 3:3

For this is the man who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, who said, [Isa. 40:3], “[It is] the voice of a man who speaks out in the desert, [urging people to] make the road for the Lord ready [for Him to travel]; to make a straight pathway for Him [to walk on].”