Luke 1:35

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The angel Gabriel answers Mary's objection (v.34) about conceiving as a virgin, supplying the divine mechanism behind the annunciation.

The words — πνεῦμα ἅγιον (pneuma hagion), "Holy Spirit," names the agent of the conception; the Spirit is not a bystander but the one who actively "comes upon" Mary.

The thread — The title "Son of God" here anticipates Nathanael's confession in John 1:49 and parallels the angelic announcement to Joseph in Matthew 1:20; the virgin conception is confirmed in Matthew 1:18.

Why it lands — The verse removes human agency from the origin of the Messiah entirely; the reader is asked to accept that this child's identity is determined by God's action alone, not by any human lineage or choice.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
John 1:49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Matthew 1:20 But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
John 1:34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
Luke 1:31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
Romans 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Matthew 26:63 But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Mark 1:24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
Acts 8:36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?”