Chapter 1:26-38 Jesus' Birth Foretold

1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

The same angel, Gabriel, that was employed in making known to Zacharias God's purpose concerning his son, is employed in this also; for in this, the same glorious work of redemption, which was begun in that, is carried on.

1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

To a virgin espoused - The reflections of pious father Quesnel on this subject are worthy of serious regard. At length the moment is come which is to give a son to a virgin, a savior to the world, a pattern to mankind, a sacrifice to sinners, a temple to the Divinity, and a new principle to the new world. This angel is sent from God, not to the palaces of the great, but to a poor maid, the wife of a carpenter.

1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

And the angel came in unto her — Some think that all this business was transacted in a vision; and that there was no personal appearance of the angel. When Divine visions were given, they are announced as such, in the sacred writings; nor can we with safety attribute any thing to a vision, where a Divine communication is made, unless it be specified as such in the text.
Hail — Analogous to, Peace be to thee - May thou enjoy all possible blessings!
Highly favored — As being chosen in preference to all the women upon earth, to be the mother of the Messiah. 

Not the mother of God, 

for that is blasphemy.

The Lord is with thee — Thou art about to receive the most convincing proofs of God's peculiar favor towards thee.
Blessed art thou among women — That is, thou art favored beyond all others.

1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

The best of news may sometimes cause the greatest perturbation of mind and heart. If you feel troubled when you receive a message from God do not be astonished, as though some strange thing had happened unto you. 

--See how Mary, who was told that she was to receive the greatest honor and favor possible to a mortal being, was troubled by the angel’s speech, perplexed by his extraordinary salutation.

1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

Some court the fickle favor of men; but, even if they gain it, they may well fear that they may shortly lose it, but the angel said, “Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with God;”

1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name JESUS.

JESUS — The same as Joshua, יהושע Yehoshua, from ישע yasha, he saved, delivered, put in a state of safety.

1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David:

How true is that prophecy; “He shall be great.” Christ is the greatest of all great ones.

1:33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
That His kingdom shall be spiritual: He shall reign over the house of Jacob, not Israel according to the flesh -- it must therefore be a spiritual kingdom, the house of Israel according to the promise, that he must rule over. 

That it shall be eternal: 

He shall reign for ever, 

and of His kingdom there shall be no end, 

as there had been long since of the temporal reign of David's house, and would shortly be of the state of Israel.

1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
Seeing I know not a man — Or, husband. As she was only contracted to Joseph, and not as yet married, she knew that this conception could not have yet taken place; and she modestly inquires by what means the promise of the angel is to be fulfilled in order to regulate her conduct accordingly.

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.

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee — This conception shall take place suddenly, and the Holy Spirit Himself shall be the grand operator.

1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Thy cousin Elisabeth — Thy kinswoman, συγγενης. As Elisabeth was of the tribe of Levi, Luke 1:5, and Mary of the tribe of Judah, they could not be relatives but by the mother's side.

She hath also conceived — And this is wrought by the same power and energy through which thou shalt conceive. Thus God has given thee a proof and pledge, in what he has done for Elisabeth, of what He will do for thyself; therefore, have faith in God.

1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
For with God nothing shall be impossible — Words of the very same import with those spoken by the Lord to Sarah, when He foretold the birth of Isaac, Genesis 18:14, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? 

--As there can be no doubt that Mary perceived this allusion to the promise and birth of Isaac, so she must have had her faith considerably strengthened by reflecting on the intervention of God in that case.

1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord — It appears that at the instant of this act of faith, and purposed obedience, the conception of the immaculate humanity of Jesus took place; and it was DONE unto her according to his word.
His mission was accomplished, so he might go back to the glory from which he had come at God’s command.