Event New Testament
The annunciation to Mary
Also known as Gabriel's announcement
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to tell Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph, that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a son named Jesus, who would receive the throne of David and reign forever. Mary answered as the Lord's servant.
Why it matters. This is where the promise to David and the promise of Immanuel meet a real girl in a real village. Mary's yes is the first human response to the Gospel in Luke's story.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
Luke alone narrates the announcement to Mary; Matthew records the separate announcement to Joseph in a dream. FaithGraph keeps them as distinct events.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The exile and the return precedes The annunciation to Mary
Historical inferenceHigh confidenceMatthew's genealogy counts fourteen generations from the exile to the Christ, and Luke sets the announcements in the days of Herod, centuries after the return.
Evidence:The annunciation to Mary precedes Mary visits Elizabeth
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMary sets out for the hill country in the days after the angel leaves her.
Evidence:Gabriel participates in The annunciation to Mary
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLuke names Gabriel as the angel God sent to Nazareth.
Evidence:Mary, mother of Jesus participates in The annunciation to Mary
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe announcement is made to Mary, and she answers as the Lord's servant.
Evidence:The annunciation to Mary occurs at Nazareth
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLuke places the visit in the Galilean town of Nazareth.
Evidence:The annunciation to Mary develops the theme Promise and fulfillment
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceGabriel's words apply the promise of David's throne to the child Mary will bear.
Evidence:The annunciation to Mary develops the theme The Kingdom of God
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceThe child's kingdom will never end.
Evidence: