Verification from the mouth of two or three witnesses is a principle that pervades Scripture. Luke follows that pattern in establishing the identity of the Messiah. And such is the case with Simeon and Anna.

When Anna is said to give thanks to God, the word means committed agreement. In this text, it refers to her acknowledgement of God's fulfillment of His promise by sending Christ and, in turn, giving God the glory due His name for such redemption. Her thanksgiving is like a song of worshipful praise, adding to the three previous songs already given in Luke's Gospel.