Luke's beginning
Luke has 10 or 20 years to study after Matthew had written his gospel. During this time he learned more of the mystery. Mark had begun with the preaching of John the Baptist, and Matthew with the genealogy of Jesus. Luke will rewrite both of those beginnings.
First he will begin with the birth of John the Baptist, rather than his later preaching. He begins here to address the gap of the older gospel. Then when he gets caught up to Matthew, he will rewrite the genealogy of Jesus. He is not creating new doctrine or record. He is interpreting the mystery, which has been hidden from the beginning.
No water until he speaks
Read the prophecy considering that water is the word of God:
- 1Ki 17:1 ¶ And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
Jesus said that if we will hear it (indicating a hidden meaning), John is Elijah. Luke recognizes the mystery, when Mark and Matthew did not:
Herod
- Lu 1:5 ¶ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
Herod is mentioned since it literally places the events in history. But as with all Biblical history, it tells us more. The name 'Herod' in Greek means 'heroic' which may have contributed to his sociopathic personality. But when heard in Hebrew is 'the ה word of God in spirit and flesh רד'. As witnessed by the wise men from the East, the timing was about right for the Messiah. Herod thought he was it. He thought he would rule Jerusalem and from there rule Rome as well.
But in Prophecy details matter. The hei ה means heard but not understood, and Herod becomes a type of Christ in the flesh to match the name Arod ארד meaning 'I AM descending' or 'I AM the word in flesh and spirit'.
Judea
Judea means 'he shall be praised' but it is the feminine of Judah meaning 'he shall be praised'. The Son of God descended from on high to be praised by his bride..