Luke 1:35

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Luke 1:35 (KJV)

Context

Luke 1:35 belongs to the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel answers Mary’s question about how she will conceive. The verse explains the divine means of the miracle and reassures Mary of its holy purpose.

Meaning

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee: the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, would directly cause the conception. This is not natural but supernatural, marking Jesus’ birth as uniquely holy and sinless.

The power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: “the Highest” is God the Father, and His power is the same creative energy seen at creation. “Overshadow” suggests a protective, glorious presence, like the cloud of God’s glory in the Old Testament, showing His sovereign intervention.

Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God: the child would be holy, set apart, and rightly called the Son of God. This title affirms His divine identity—fully God and fully man, conceived by the Spirit and born of Mary.

Biblical connections

The verse reveals the Trinity at work in the incarnation: the Father (the Highest), the Spirit (the Holy Ghost), and the Son (who is to be born). It also connects to the virgin birth prophecy and the truth that Jesus is both divine and human.

Application

This verse strengthens faith by showing that God can do what seems impossible. Just as the Spirit brought about the incarnation, He works in believers’ lives to accomplish God’s purposes. It also calls us to worship Jesus as the holy Son of God, who came to save humanity.

Reflection

Mary received the angel’s message with faith, and we are invited to trust God’s promises even when we cannot see how they will be fulfilled. The miracle of Jesus’ birth assures us that nothing is impossible with God.