She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 21. Jesus … he shall save, and so forth The characteristic name of Saviour was peculiar to the Messias, by which he was distinguished, as well as by the adorable name of Jesus. The expectations of both Jew and Gentile looked forward to a saviour. Saint Augustine, in the 18th book, 23d chapter, de Civitate Dei, introduces a curious anecdote. He mentions there, that he received from the eloquent and learned Proconsul Flactianus, a book containing in Greek the verses of one of the Sybils, which related to the coming of Christ. The substance of them is much the same as occurs in the prophecies of Isaiah, from which Virgil has likewise copied into his Pollio, many of the sublime thoughts which we find in that beautiful eclogue. It is remarkable that of the initials of these verses, Saint Augustine had formed an acrostic to the following import, Ιησους Χριστος Θεου υιος σωτηρ; that is, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Saviour. A.
“Jesus” means “Salvation”.