And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto you, and to show you these glad tidings.
All Commentaries on Luke 1:19 Go To Luke 1
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
The name Gabriel signifies, the strength of God; or, God is my strength. The angels are sometimes styled by proper names, in order to show their respective duties; thus, no angel could better be appointed to declare the precursor, as also the Messias himself, than he who was styled the power of God: since he came to declare the coming of one who was to destroy the power of the devil, and overthrow his kingdom. (Nicholas of Lyra) See Tobit xii. 15; Apocalypse i. 4. and viii. 2.
