Who was Anna the prophetess in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Anna the prophetess, mentioned in Luke 2:36–38, encountered the infant Jesus when Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple. Anna is described as a very old, widowed prophetess who dedicated her life to worship, fasting, and prayer in the temple. Recognizing Jesus as the promised Messiah, she thanked God and shared the news with others who were also eagerly awaiting Jerusalem's redemption. Anna's life exemplifies trust in God, perseverance through adversity, and the joy of sharing God's goodness with others, serving as an inspiration for believers to do the same.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Anna the prophetess is only mentioned in the New Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Anna the prophetess is only mentioned in Luke 2:36–38. When Jesus' parents brought Him to the temple to perform the ceremony of the redemption of the firstborn one month after His birth, they met Anna there.
• Anna is first identified as a prophetess, which is a woman who speaks forth the Word of God to its intended audience (Luke 2:36). Anna is also identified as the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36). Some from this tribe returned to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover when King Hezekiah called them to repentance (2 Chronicles 30:9–27).
• Anna is described as being “advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day" (Luke 2:36–37). Most women who were widowed that young would have remarried; however, Anna dedicated her life to serving the Lord in the temple rather than remarrying and raising a family.
• By the time Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for this ceremony, Anna the prophetess had spent well over half a century serving God in the temple. Anna immediately recognized the infant Jesus as the promised Messiah. Luke recorded, "coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38). Anna's first response to recognizing Jesus as the Messiah was to thank God and to share God’s character and His faithfulness in His promise of redemption.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Anna the prophetess loved the Lord and dedicated her life to serving Him. Regardless of her unfortunate circumstances, Anna remained faithful to God. God calls us to trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5–6) and to do everything for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). When life does not make sense, we can trust in the One who is in control and whose good promises do come true.

The Jews had been waiting for the Messiah for hundreds of years. Anna, too, had been waiting. Her relationship with God allowed her to identify the Messiah upon seeing Him. The Spirit reveals truth and points us to Jesus, and He did that for Anna. When we walk in the Spirit instead of in the flesh, He reveals truth (John 16:13–15) and produces fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22–23).

We can learn a lot from Anna the prophetess’s response to recognizing Jesus: she thanked God and told others. She did not praise the Jewish people for their obedience to God's law or commend the priests for their faithful-enough service that earned them the coming of the Messiah. She recognized that this happened by God's grace alone and that it was the fulfillment of His promise of redemption, and she thanked Him. Her second response was to share this good news with those around her. She wanted others to know God and rejoice in His goodness.

Anna's life is an encouragement for those who dedicate their lives to the Lord. God is good and is faithful throughout life’s circumstances. Anna recognized her Messiah and was able to tell others because she had spent a lifetime trusting and serving God despite the personal tragedies she experienced. We, too, can know God personally, experience His faithfulness, and share the good news with others.

UNDERSTAND

• Anna was a prophetess who served in the temple after her husband died.
• Anna was very old but was still serving the Lord.
• Anna recognized the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and responded in thanksgiving and sharing the good news with others.

REFLECT

• Anna the prophetess encourages us to be faithful to God and to abide in Him. Her relationship with the Lord and faithfulness to Him allowed her to be prepared to recognize Jesus and God’s plan of redemption.
• Anna’s response of gratitude and sharing the joy she had encourages us to do the same when we understand who God is and what He has done for us.
• How are you challenged to know God more, to be grateful to Him, and to share Him with others after seeing Anna’s faith?

ENGAGE

• When difficult circumstances come, many people respond with anger or frustration, sometimes focused at God. What would it look like to pause, reflect on our emotions, and respond by turning to Him?
• Gratitude is difficult for many people, but gratitude changes our perspective on so many things and allows us to focus on good even when everything is not good. How can gratitude change your attitude and outlook on your circumstances?
• Many Jews were awaiting God’s fulfillment of His promise of redemption. Anna the prophetess was one of these people waiting, and she was able to immediately recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Why did so many miss God’s fulfillment through Jesus?