Luke 2:28

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:25-35 The same Spirit that provided for the support of Simeon's hope, provided for his joy. Those who would see Christ must go to his temple. Here is a confession of his faith, that this Child in his arms was the Saviour, the salvation itself, the salvation of God's appointing. He bids farewell to this world. How poor does this world look to one that has Christ in his arms, and salvation in his view! See here, how comfortable is the death of a good man; he departs in peace with God, peace with his own conscience, in peace with death. Those that have welcomed Christ, may welcome death. Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of this Child. Simeon shows them likewise, what reason they had to rejoice with trembling. And Jesus, his doctrine, and people, are still spoken against; his truth and holiness are still denied and blasphemed; his preached word is still the touchstone of men's characters. The secret good affections in the minds of some, will be revealed by their embracing Christ; the secret corruptions of others will be revealed by their enmity to Christ. Men will be judged by the thoughts of their hearts concerning Christ. He shall be a suffering Jesus; his mother shall suffer with him, because of the nearness of her relation and affection.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Blessed God - Thanked or praised God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

28. took him up in his arms—immediately recognizing in the child, with unhesitating certainty, the promised Messiah, without needing Mary to inform him of what had happened to her. [Olshausen]. The remarkable act of taking the babe in his arms must not be overlooked. It was as if he said, "This is all my salvation and all my desire" (2Sa 23:5).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 2:25"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then took he him up in his arms,.... That same Spirit that had revealed unto him that he should not die till he saw the Messiah with his bodily eyes; and who by a secret impulse had moved him to go to the temple just at this time made known unto him that that child which Joseph and Mary then brought into the temple to present to the Lord, was the Messiah; wherefore, in a rapture of joy, he took him out of their arms into his own, embracing him with all affection and respect imaginable: though, some think he was a priest, and it being his office to present the firstborn to the Lord, he took him in his arms, and did it; but the former account seems more agreeable:

and blessed God; praised him, and gave glory to him, for his great goodness, in sending the promised Messiah, and long wished for Saviour; for his grace and favour, in indulging him with a sight of him; and for his truth and faithfulness in making good his promise to him:

and said; as follows.

Geneva Study Bible

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 2:28. καὶ, as in Luke 2:21, before ἐκλήθη, introducing the apodosis “then” in A. V[27] and R. V[28]—αὐτὸς, not necessarily emphatic (Keil, Farrar), vide Luke 1:22.

[27] Authorised Version.

[28] Revised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

28. in his arms] Hence he is sometimes called Theodokos, ‘the receiver of God,’ as Ignatius is sometimes called Theophoros, ‘borne of God,’ from the fancy that he was one of the children whom Christ took in His arms (see on Luke 9:47).

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 2:28. Αὐτὸς, [of] himself) of his own accord.—ἐδέξατο, he took Him up) by a Divine motion: he thus meeting the Divine goodness with a corresponding expression of his sense of it.

Luke 2:28