◄ Luke 2:36 ►
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
Study Bible
There was also a prophetess named Anna,

Anna stands with Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah among the women through whom God spoke in Israel’s history. Her prophetic ministry shows that the Lord entrusted women with significant spiritual service and testimony among His people.

Jdg 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth,…
Exo 15:20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister,…
2Ki 22:14 So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan…

the daughter of Phanuel,

Luke records Anna’s family identity as part of the historical detail surrounding Jesus’ presentation at the temple. Phanuel’s name, meaning “face of God,” fittingly recalls the divine presence sought and recognized by Anna.

Gen 32:30 So Jacob named the place Peniel, saying…
Jdg 8:8 From there he went up to Penuel and asked the same…
1Ki 12:25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim…

of the tribe of Asher,

Anna belonged to one of the northern tribes of Israel, demonstrating that descendants of the dispersed tribes remained among God’s people. Her presence in Jerusalem reflects the hope of Israel’s restoration and the gathering of all God’s people around the promised Messiah.

Num 1:40-41 From the sons of Asher, according to the records…
Deu 33:24-25 And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most favored…
Jos 19:24-31 The fifth lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Asher:…

who was well along in years.

Anna’s advanced age had been marked by perseverance in faith. She lived long enough to see the One for whom faithful Israelites had waited, and her life testified that God’s promises do not fail.

Jos 13:1 Now Joshua was old and well along in years,…
Jos 23:1 A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest…
1Ki 1:1 Now King David was old and well along in years,…

She had been married for seven years,

Her brief marriage was followed by many years of widowhood and devotion to God. Although Scripture often uses seven in patterns of completeness, Luke’s emphasis is on the real history of a woman whose life became wholly centered on worship, prayer, and the coming redemption of Israel.

Gen 29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel…
Gen 29:27-28 Finish this week’s celebration, and we will give you…
Gen 29:30 Jacob slept with Rachel as well. So he worked for Laban…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Anna
A prophetess mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. Her role as a prophetess indicates she was a woman of spiritual insight and devotion. Her presence in the temple signifies her dedication to God.

2. Phanuel
Anna's father, whose name means "face of God" in Hebrew. This connection may imply a heritage of faith and devotion.

3. Tribe of Asher
One of the twelve tribes of Israel. The mention of Anna's tribal affiliation highlights her Jewish heritage and the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.

4. Temple
The setting where Anna encounters Jesus. The temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship and a place of prophecy and revelation.

5. Prophetess
Anna's role as a prophetess underscores the presence of women in spiritual leadership and their ability to receive and proclaim God's messages.
Teaching Points
Faithful Devotion
Anna's life exemplifies unwavering devotion to God. Her constant presence in the temple encourages believers to remain steadfast in their faith and worship.

Role of Women in Ministry
Anna's role as a prophetess highlights the significant contributions of women in spiritual leadership and ministry. It encourages the church to recognize and support the gifts of women.

Heritage of Faith
Anna's lineage from the tribe of Asher reminds us of the importance of spiritual heritage and the impact of family faithfulness on future generations.

Waiting on God's Timing
Anna's long years of waiting teach us patience and trust in God's perfect timing. Her account encourages believers to remain hopeful and expectant for God's promises.

Witnessing and Proclaiming
Anna's response to seeing Jesus was to give thanks and speak about Him. Believers are called to witness and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to others.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Anna's devotion and constant presence in the temple challenge or inspire your own spiritual practices and commitment to God?

2. In what ways can the church today encourage and support the roles of women in ministry, as seen in the example of Anna?

3. Reflect on your own spiritual heritage. How can you build upon it to impact future generations for Christ?

4. What are some areas in your life where you need to exercise patience and trust in God's timing, as Anna did?

5. How can you actively witness and proclaim the good news of Jesus in your daily life, following Anna's example of sharing about the Messiah?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 1-2
The account of Hannah, another devout woman who dedicated her life to God and was blessed with the prophet Samuel. Both women demonstrate faithfulness and devotion.

Acts 2:17
The prophecy of Joel, quoted by Peter, speaks of sons and daughters prophesying. Anna's role as a prophetess is an early example of this fulfillment.

Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. Anna's long years of waiting in the temple reflect this promise of strength and renewal.
Sermons
The Circumcision and Presentation of JesusR.M. Edgar Luke 2:21-40
Anna an Example to the AgedJames Foote, M. A.Luke 2:36-38
Beautiful Old AgeH. W. Beecher.Luke 2:36-38
First Female Testimony to ChristVan Doren.Luke 2:36-38
Occupation of AnnaDr. Geikie.Luke 2:36-38
Piety in the AgedPreachers' TreasuryLuke 2:36-38
The Prophetess AnnaJ. Parker, D. D.Luke 2:36-38
The Story of a Lonely Woman's WorkMarianne Farningham.Luke 2:36-38
The Testimony of WomanhoodW. Clarkson Luke 2:36-38
People
Anna, Aser, Asher, Augustus, Cyrenius, David, Jesus, Joseph, Mary, Phanuel, Simeon
Places
Bethlehem, Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea, Nazareth, Rome, Syria
Topics
Advanced, Age, Anna, Aser, Asher, Belonging, Daughter, Family, Husband, Maidenhood, Marriage, Married, Phanuel, Phan'u-el, Prophet, Prophetess, Seven, Tribe, Virginity
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 2:1-40

     5652   babies

Luke 2:36-37

     5773   abstinence, discipline

Luke 2:36-38

     5743   widows
     5745   women
     7266   tribes of Israel
     7469   temple, Herod's
     8352   thankfulness
     8493   watchfulness, believers

Library
December 25. "I Bring You Glad Tidings" (Luke ii. 10).
"I bring you glad tidings" (Luke ii. 10). A Christmas spirit should be a spirit of humanity. Beside that beautiful object lesson on the Manger, the Cradle, and the lowly little child, what Christian heart can ever wish to be proud? It is a spirit of joy. It is right that these should be glad tidings, for, "Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." It is a spirit of love. It should be the joy that comes from giving joy to others. The central fact of Christmas is …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Was, Is, is to Come
'... The babe lying in a manger...'--LUKE ii. 16. '... While He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven...'--LUKE xxiv. 51. 'This same Jesus... shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go...'--ACTS I. 11. These three fragments, which I have ventured to isolate and bring together, are all found in one author's writings. Luke's biography of Jesus stretches from the cradle in Bethlehem to the Ascension from Olivet. He narrates the Ascension twice, because it has two …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Boy in the Temple
'And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me! wist ye not that I must be about My Father's business?' --LUKE ii. 49. A number of spurious gospels have come down to us, which are full of stories, most of them absurd and some of them worse, about the infancy of Jesus Christ. Their puerilities bring out more distinctly the simplicity, the nobleness, the worthiness of this one solitary incident of His early days, which has been preserved for us. How has it been preserved? If you will look over …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Simeon's Swan-Song
'Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: 30. For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.'--LUKE ii. 29,30. That scene, when the old man took the Infant in his withered arms, is one of the most picturesque and striking in the Gospel narrative. Simeon's whole life appears, in its later years, to have been under the immediate direction of the Spirit of God. It is very remarkable to notice how, in the course of three consecutive verses, the operation of that divine Spirit …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Shepherds and Angels
'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. 10. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Angel's Message and Song
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD . And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

December the Nineteenth the Sun of Righteousness
"A light to lighten the Gentiles." --LUKE ii. 25-40. That was the wonder of wonders. Hitherto the light had been supposed to be for Israel alone; and now a heavenly splendour was to fall upon the Gentiles. Hitherto the light had been thought of as a lamp, illuming a single place; now it was to be a sun, shedding its glory upon a world. The "people that sat in darkness" are now to see "a great light." New regions are to be occupied; there is to be daybreak everywhere! "The Sun of Righteousness …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

December the Twenty-Fifth Christmas Cheer
"Good will toward men!" --LUKE ii. 8-20. The heavens are not filled with hostility. The sky does not express a frown. When I look up I do not contemplate a face of brass, but the face of infinite good will. Yet when I was a child, many a picture has made me think of God as suspicious, inhumanly watchful, always looking round the corner to catch me at the fall. That "eye," placed in the sky of many a picture, and placed there to represent God, filled my heart with a chilling fear. That God was …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Religious Joy.
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."--Luke ii. 10, 11. There are two principal lessons which we are taught on the great Festival which we this day celebrate, lowliness and joy. This surely is a day, of all others, in which is set before us the heavenly excellence and the acceptableness in God's sight of that state which …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Wilderness: Temptation. Matthew 4:1-11. Mark 1:12, 13. Luke 4:1-13.
The University of Arabia: Jesus' naturalness--the Spirit's presence--intensity, Luke 2:45-51.--a true perspective--- the temptation's path--sin's path--John's grouping, 1 John 2:16.--the Spirit's plan--why--the devil's weakness--the Spirit's leading--a wilderness for every God-used man, Moses, Elijah, Paul. Earth's Ugliest, Deepest Scar: Jesus the only one led up to be tempted--the wilderness--its history, Genesis 13:10-13. 18:16-19:38.--Jesus really tempted--no wrong here in inner response--every …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus

Joy Born at Bethlehem
In our text we have before us the sermon of the first evangelist under the gospel dispensation. The preacher was an angel, and it was meet it should be so, for the grandest and last of all evangels will be proclaimed by an angel when he shall sound the trumpet of the resurrection, and the children of the regeneration shall rise into the fullness of their joy. The key-note of this angelic gospel is joy--"I bring unto you good tidings of great joy." Nature fears in the presence of God--the shepherds …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

"Nunc Dimittis"
We shall note, this morning, first, that every believer may be assured of departing in peace; but that, secondly, some believers feel a special readiness to depart now: "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace;" and, thirdly, that there are words of encouragement to produce in us the like readiness: "according to thy word." There are words of Holy Writ which afford richest consolation in prospect of departure. I. First, then, let us start with the great general principle, which is full of comfort; …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Christ About his Father's Business
But now I shall invite your attention, first, to the spirit of the Saviour, as breathed in these words, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" and then, secondly, I shall exhort the children of God, with all the earnestness which I can command, with all the intensity of power which I can summon to the point, to labour after the same spirit, that they too may unfeignedly say, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? " I. First, then note THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST. It was …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

The First Christmas Carol
Let us turn aside, having just thought of angels for a moment, to think rather of this song, than of the angels themselves. Their song was brief, but as Kitto excellently remarks, it was "well worthy of angels expressing the greatest and most blessed truths, in words so few, that they become to an acute apprehension, almost oppressive by the pregnant fulness of their meaning"--"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." We shall, hoping to be assisted by the Holy Spirit, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Christ's Boyhood
LUKE ii. 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom, and in stature, and in favour both with God and man. I do not pretend to understand these words. I preach on them because the Church has appointed them for this day. And most fitly. At Christmas we think of our Lord's birth. What more reasonable, than that we should go on to think of our Lord's boyhood? To think of this aright, even if we do not altogether understand it, ought to help us to understand rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ; …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

The Christ Child (Christmas Day. )
LUKE ii. 7. And she brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapt him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. Mother and child.--Think of it, my friends, on Christmas day. What more beautiful sight is there in the world? What more beautiful sight, and what more wonderful sight? What more beautiful? That man must be very far from the kingdom of God--he is not worthy to be called a man at all--whose heart has not been touched by the sight of his first child in its mother's bosom. The greatest …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Music (Christmas Day. )
LUKE ii. 13, 14. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. You have been just singing Christmas hymns; and my text speaks of the first Christmas hymn. Now what the words of that hymn meant; what Peace on earth and good-will towards man meant, I have often told you. To-day I want you, for once, to think of this--that it was a hymn; that these angels were singing, even as …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

Of Having Confidence in God when Evil Words are Cast at Us
"My Son, stand fast and believe in Me. For what are words but words? They fly through the air, but they bruise no stone. If thou are guilty, think how thou wouldst gladly amend thyself; if thou knowest nothing against thyself, consider that thou wilt gladly bear this for God's sake. It is little enough that thou sometimes hast to bear hard words, for thou art not yet able to bear hard blows. And wherefore do such trivial matters go to thine heart, except that thou art yet carnal, and regardest …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

The Birth of Jesus.
(at Bethlehem of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 1-7. ^c 1 Now it came to pass in those days [the days of the birth of John the Baptist], there went out a decree [a law] from Cæsar Augustus [Octavius, or Augustus, Cæsar was the nephew of and successor to Julius Cæsar. He took the name Augustus in compliment to his own greatness; and our month August is named for him; its old name being Sextilis], that all the world should be enrolled. [This enrollment or census was the first step …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus.
(the Temple at Jerusalem, b.c. 4) ^C Luke II. 21-39. ^c 21 And when eight days [Gen. xvii. 12] were fulfilled for circumcising him [The rite was doubtless performed by Joseph. By this rite Jesus was "made like unto his brethren" (Heb. ii. 16, 17); that is, he became a member of the covenant nation, and became a debtor to the law--Gal. v. 3] , his name was called JESUS [see Luke i. 59], which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [Luke i. 31.] 22 And when the days of their …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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