"An angel did not appear, first to Mary, and also afterwards to Joseph; he can only have appeared either to the one or to the other. Consequently, it is only the one or the other relation which can be regarded as historical. And here different considerations would conduct to opposite decisions.... Every criticism which might determine the adoption of the one, and the rejection of the other, disappears; and we find ourselves, in reference to both accounts, driven back by necessity to the mythical view."--Strauss. 43 For what purpose was the Annunciation made? Luke: Simply to acquaint Mary with the heavenly decree that she had been chosen to become the mother of the coming Messiah (i, 26-33). Matthew: To allay the suspicions of Joseph respecting Mary's chastity and prevent him from putting her away (i, 18-20). 44 Did the Annunciation take place before or after Mary's conception? Luke: Before (i, 26-31). Matthew: After (i, 18-20). 45 Who was declared to be the father of Jesus? Matthew: The Holy Ghost (i, 18, 20). With the Jews the Holy Ghost (Spirit) was of feminine gender; with the Greeks, of masculine gender. The belief that the Holy Ghost was the father of Jesus originated, not with the Jewish Christians of Palestine, as claimed, but with the Greek Christians of Alexandria. 46 What prediction did the angel Gabriel make to Mary concerning Jesus? "The Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David" (Luke i, 32). Respecting this prediction the Rev. Dr. Hooykaas, of Holland, says: "If a messenger from Heaven had really come to bring a divine revelation to Mary, the result must have confirmed his prediction; and since Jesus never fulfilled these expectations it is obvious that the revelation was never made." 47 When Mary visited Elizabeth what did she do? Luke: She uttered a hymn of praise (i, 46-55). Had Mary uttered such a hymn we would suppose that it would have been original and inspired by the Almighty Father of her unborn child. Yet the hymn which Luke puts into her mouth was borrowed from the song of Hannah. Hannah. Mary. "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord" (1 "My spirit hath rejoiced in God" Sam. ii, 1). (Luke i, 47). "If thou wilt indeed look on the "For he hath regarded the low affliction of thine handmaid" (i, estate of his handmaiden" (48). 11). "Talk no more so exceeding proudly" "He hath scattered the proud" (ii, 3). (51). "The bows of the mighty men are "He hath put down the mighty from broken, and they that stumbled are their seats and exalted them of girded with strength (4). low degree" (52). "They that were full hath hired out "He hath filled the hungry with themselves for bread; and they that good things; and the rich he hath were hungry ceased" (5). sent empty away" (53). 48