Luke 1:29

Troubled. Gr. diatarasso, “to agitate greatly,” or “to trouble greatly.” Mary was perplexed at the sudden, unexpected appearance of the angel, but even more so at the high honor expressed in the angel’s extraordinary salutation to her. She was “troubled,” but self-composed.

Cast in her mind. Literally, “was reasoning,” or “was deliberating.” Though “troubled,” Mary endeavored to think things through and to discover the reason for this unusual experience. Under such circumstances many people would probably lose, for the moment, the capacity for deliberative thought. Mary seems to have been not only a virtuous and devout maiden but one of remarkable intelligence as well. Not only had she an unusual acquaintance with the Scriptures, but she also reflected upon the meaning of the various experiences that life brought her (see ch. 2:19, 51). Unlike Zacharias, who became afraid (ch. 1:12), Mary seems to have kept her presence of mind.