The Bible Christians read today and the Qur’an agree on the identity of the angel who delivers divine revelation. His name is Gabriel. This is one of the clearest continuities between the Abrahamic scriptures, preserved in the existing biblical text.
The Bible’s testimony — the Law was given through angels:
The New Testament itself states that the Torah was mediated to Moses through angels.
Acts 7:53 — “Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”
Stephen, in his speech before the Sanhedrin, says the Children of Israel received the Law by the disposition of angels. The Greek is eis diatagas angelōn — through the ordinances / arrangements of angels.
Galatians 3:19 — “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
Paul affirms the same position. The Law was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator (Moses).
Hebrews 2:2 — “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward…”
Hebrews refers to the Torah as the word spoken by angels.
Three independent New Testament passages affirm that the Law of Moses was mediated through angels. The Bible Christians read today preserves this position.
Gabriel in the Hebrew Bible — the angel of prophetic understanding:
Daniel 8:16 — “Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.”
Daniel 9:21–22 — “The man Gabriel… touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.”
Gabriel is the angel of divine understanding, prophetic timing, and the explanation of God’s purpose.
Gabriel in the Gospel — the angel of the annunciations:
Luke 1:19 — “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.”
Gabriel announces John the Baptist to Zechariah.
Luke 1:26 — “The angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth.”
Gabriel announces Jesus to Mary.
Luke 1:45 — “Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
What was told to Mary from the Lord was delivered by Gabriel.
Gabriel in Jubilees 1:27 — 2:1
“And He said to the angel of the presence: ‘Write for Moses from the beginning of creation till My sanctuary has been built among them for all eternity. And the Lord will appear to the eyes of all, and all shall know that I am the God of Israel and the Father of all the children of Jacob, and King on Mount Zion for all eternity.’ And the angel of the presence spake to Moses according to the commandment of the Lord, saying: ‘Write the complete history of the creation…'”
— Book of Jubilees 1:27 — 2:1, canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Bible; preserved at Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) in 15 Hebrew manuscript fragments
Josephus, Antiquities 15.5.3
And for ourselves, we have learned from God the most excellent of our doctrines, and the most holy part of our law, by angels or ambassadors; for this name brings God to the knowledge of mankind, and is sufficient to reconcile enemies one to another.
Philo of Alexandria discusses divine mediation but does not develop the angelic-Law theme as strongly
Gabriel in the Qur’an — the angel who brought the final revelation:
Qur’an 2:97 — “Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel — it is he who has brought it down upon your heart by permission of Allah, confirming what was before it, and as guidance and good tidings for the believers.”
Qur’an 66:4 — “Allah is his protector, and Gabriel, and the righteous among the believers…”
The Qur’an identifies Gabriel as the angel who brought the final revelation to the Prophet ﷺ.
EXPLAINER:
The New Testament says the Law was given through angels (Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19, Hebrews 2:2).
The Old Testament identifies Gabriel as the angel of prophetic understanding sent to Daniel (Daniel 8:16, 9:21).
The New Testament identifies Gabriel as the angel who announced John the Baptist and Jesus (Luke 1:19, 1:26).
The Qur’an identifies Gabriel as the angel who brought the final revelation to Muhammad ﷺ (Qur’an 2:97, 66:4).
One angel. The Law given through angels in the Torah. Prophetic understanding through Gabriel in Daniel. The Gospel announced through Gabriel in Luke. The Qur’an delivered through Gabriel to the Prophet ﷺ.
The Bible’s own testimony establishes that revelation is mediated through angels. The Bible names Gabriel as the angel of revelation to Daniel and to Mary. The Qur’an names Gabriel as the angel of revelation to Muhammad ﷺ.
The angel who told Mary that Jesus was coming is the same angel who told Muhammad ﷺ that the Qur’an was coming. The Christian Bible’s own framework confirms the identity and the function. The Bible and the Qur’an do not contradict each other on this point. They confirm each other.
Gregory the Great (c. 540–604 CE)
In Homily 34 on the Gospels (Homiliae in Evangelia, Book 2, Homily 34), Gregory the Great gives the clearest patristic statement on Gabriel’s function. He discusses the names and roles of the archangels and assigns each a particular function:
- Michael — “Who is like God” — the angel of strength and combat
- Gabriel — “Strength of God” — the angel of announcements and the bearer of messages concerning the Incarnation
- Raphael — “Healing of God” — the angel of healing
Gregory writes that Gabriel is the angel “sent whenever omnipotent acts are to be announced” (Gabriel namque Dei fortitudo nominatur. Per Gabrielem ergo qui Dei fortitudo nominatur, Filius Dei annuntiandus erat). In Gregory’s framing, Gabriel is specifically the angel of major announcements.
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