1. Who is the Author of this book and what background information can you give about him? (Vs. 1-4 and any outside source you may find)

2. What was his purpose for writing this book?

3. Give the perspective difference between this and the other three gospels.

4. Who is this book address to? Give educated speculations.

5. What can be said about the character of Zachariah? (Vs. 5-10)

6. Speculate as to why Zachariah was so afraid and give reasons for your answer.

7. What was Zachariah doing in the temple? (Lev 16:12–14; Exodus 30:1–10; 37:25–29)

8. Enumerate the peculiarities associated with John that would not be true of an ordinary good Jewish man. (Vs. 11-17; Numbers 6:1-21)

9. Why did the angel identify himself so late into the conversation? Speculate (Vs. 18-20)

10. Comment on the following statement. Elizabeth was happy because of the great things that God was going to do for the world through her son. (Vs. 21-25.)

11. Why did Elizabeth go into seclusion for five months?

12. What was so unusual about the greeting that caused Mary to be troubled? (Vs. 26-29)

13. Did Mary understand that she was to give birth to the Messiah? (Vs. 30-38)

14. Why didn’t Gabriel silence Mary as he had Zachariah upon questioning him about the possibility of these events? (Speculate)

15. Explain the word “overshadow” and its significance in Scripture.

16. Did Elizabeth know that Mary was to give birth to the Messiah? (Vs. 39-45)

17. Read Mary’s Song and comment on her state of mind and examine the theology within the lyrics (Vs. 46-55)

18. Why was everybody astonished about naming the child John? (Vs. 57-64)

19. What made the people think that John was to be no ordinary person? (Vs. 65-66)

20. Comment on Zachariah’s song. (Vs. 66- 79)