02_Feník Lapko_498-524_498-524 10/12/15 10:15 Pagina 499 499 ANNUNCIATIONS TO MARY IN LUKE 1–2 499 that to Zechariah, this article takes a different direction. It argues that some of the subsequent scenes exhibit thematic affinity with 1,26-38 in that — though cast in a variety of literary forms — they feature certain characteristics of annunciation. Specifically, this in- vestigation, by focusing on a synchronic reading of Luke 1‒2, pro- poses that in a sequential order of pericopes the shepherds in 2,8-20, Simeon in 2,22-35, and Jesus himself in 2,41-52 announce to Mary what was not made known to her by Gabriel in 1,26-38 and so ex- tend the christological silhouette painted in the initial annunciation. All (and only these) characters in their respective scenes, through the act of speaking to Mary, align themselves with the angel who was sent to announce the birth and the future significance of her son 3. The analysis proceeds in four sections (I. 1,26-38; II. 2,8-20; (o` a;ggeloj), the reference to the addressee (pro.j auvto,n), and the use of a ver- bum dicendi (ei=pen) to express the act of the angel point to the annunciation aspect of the scene. The unfolding of the plot line contains clues that provide further evidence for sustaining that annunciation is of utmost relevance to the story. When Zechariah demands a sign (1,18), the angel speaks again (kai. avpokriqei.j o` a;ggeloj ei=pen auvtw/)| and delivers the second part of his mes- sage (1,19-20). In those verses, as M. COLERIDGE, The Birth of the Lukan Nar- rative. Narrative as Christology in Luke 1−2 (JSNTSup 88; Sheffield 1993) 42, observes, the angel “speaks [...] more personally than in vv. 13-17”, and his words kai. avpesta,lhn lalh/sai pro.j se. kai. euvaggeli,sasqai, soi tau/ta indicate, as M.B. DINKLER, Silent Statements. Narrative Representations of Speech and Silence in the Gospel of Luke (BZNW 191; Berlin 2013) 73, underscores, “that God sent him for the express purpose of speaking good news”. Besides di- vulging his identity and credentials, Gabriel’s locution in 1,19 contains a double emphasis on the act of heralding as the specific goal of his mission (infinitives lalh/sai and euvaggeli,sasqai following on avpesta,lhn), with each infinitive complemented by a second person singular pronoun (pro.j se, and soi) refer- encing the priest as the addressee of the message. That the act of annunciation plays no subsidiary role is proven by yet another sentence coming from the angel’s mouth (1,20). Resuming the personally tinted second half of his speech, Gabriel declares that Zechariah will be silent and unable to speak, and furnishes the reason for such a penalty: avnqV w-n ouvk evpi,steusaj toi/j lo,goij mou. The oracle in 1,13-17 is now identified as oi` lo,goi mou and so Gabriel’s own rhet- oric reveals that the message communicated to the priest is in fact his own mes- sage. The words ouvk evpi,steusaj toi/j lo,goij mou further underscore the annunciation role of the angel. In sum, the repertoire of annunciation elements in 1,5-25 is notable and lends itself to rather easy identification. 3 “Annunciation” in this article is not put forth as a term designating the literary form of the texts at hand. Nor is it to be applied indiscriminately as