Does Luke claim to be an eye-witness of the things of which he writes? 1, 2.

      What source of information does he claim? 2.

      What extent of information does he claim? 3.

      What was his object in writing? 4.

      Who and of what family were the parents of John? 5. Meaning of "the course of Abia." See 1 Ch. xxiv: 1, 4, 5, 10.

      Note.--Abia is the New Testament form of Abijah, having lost the j by coming through the Greek, which has no j.

      What was the character of John's parents, and why is it mentioned? 6. Their age, and why is it mentioned? 7. Comp. 18.

      What was Zachariah's task as a priest? 9. What did the people do while the incense was burning? 10. What occurred in the temple? 11, 12, 13.

      What was predicted of the position and habits of John? 15. What of his influence with the people? 16, 17. What other conversation occurred? 18-20. What was the effect on the people? 21, 22. What was the design of these miraculous events? When did these things occur? 5. [3]

      When did Zachariah go home, and where was his home? 23, 39, 40. How many were the days of his ministration? Ans.--As there were twenty-four courses of priests, each course served two weeks, and the other four weeks of the year were taken up with festivals, at which all the priests were present.

      What was the feeling of the neighbors when John was born? 58. Comp. 14. Describe the scene at his circumcision. 59-64. When was it customary to name a child? 59. What custom of Pedobaptists is copied from this?

      Note.--This is a trace of the mistaken idea that baptism took the place of circumcision.

      What was the effect of these events on the people? 65, 66. State in full the purpose of God in Zachariah's dumbness. What effect must these events have had in John's favor when he commenced his ministry?

      In Zachariah's prophecy, concerning whom does he speak in verses 67-75; of Jesus, or John? Why of the former on this occasion? Comp. 76. What prediction did he then make concerning John? 76. How was John to give the people knowledge of salvation? 77. What more is said of John's early life? 80. Does it appear from this that he entered the priest's office? In what deserts was he? Ans.--The term desert applies to the thinly inhabited portions of Judea, like the hill country in which John's parents resided. This was an appropriate place for the early life of such a man as John.

[FBL 3-4]