Luke 2:26

“And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, etc.] Not in a dream, as the wise men were warned, nor by an angel, as Joseph, nor by a voice from heaven, which the Jews call “Bath Kol”, but by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, enlightening his understanding, and impressing on his mind: that he should not see death; an Hebraism, see it in (<198948>Psalm 89:48) the same with the phrase, “to taste death”, elsewhere used; and the sense is, as the Ethiopic version renders it, “that he should not die”; or as the Persic version, “that his death should not be”; as yet: he should live some time longer; nor should that messenger be sent to remove him, though a man in years, out of time into…”

“revealed by the Holy Ghost--implying, beyond all doubt, the personality of the Spirit. should see not death till he had seen--"sweet antithesis!" [BENGEL]. How would the one sight gild the gloom of the other! He was, probably, by this time, advanced in years.”

“And it was revealed unto him - In what way this was done we are not informed. Sometimes a revelation was made by a dream, at others by a voice, and at others by silent suggestion. All we know of this is that it was by the Holy Spirit. Not see death - Should not die. To “see” death and to “taste” of death, was a common way among the Hebrews of expressing death itself. Compare Psalms 89:48. The Lord’s Christ - Rather “the Lord’s Anointed.” The word “Christ” means “anointed,” and it would have been better to use that word here. To an aged man who had been long waiting for the Messiah, how grateful must have been this revelation - this solemn assurance that the Messiah was near! But this…”

“2:26 the Lord’s Messiah (or the Lord’s Anointed): This title, often used of David, came to refer to the Messiah, who would come from David’s line.”

“it: Psa 25:14; Amo 3:7 see death: Ιδειν τον θανατον, to see death, is a Hebraism for to die, exactly corresponding to יראה מות. Psa 89:49; Luk 9:27; Psa 89:48; Joh 8:51; Heb 11:5 the Lord's: Psa 2:2, Psa 2:6; Isa 61:1; Dan 9:24-26; Joh 1:41, Joh 4:29, Joh 20:31; Act 2:36, Act 9:20; Act 10:38, Act 17:3; Heb 1:8, Heb 1:9 Luke 2:27”