Zechariah

Life and work

Zechariah belonged to the priestly division of Abijah and was married to Elizabeth, also of priestly descent; Luke calls them both righteous before God, though childless and advanced in years (Luke 1:5-7). Priestly divisions served in the Jerusalem temple on a rotating basis, and it was during his division's turn that Zechariah was chosen by lot for the singular honor of entering the sanctuary to burn incense (Luke 1:8-9).

While he was inside, the angel Gabriel appeared beside the altar and announced that Elizabeth would bear a son to be named John, who would go before the Lord "in the spirit and power of Elijah" to prepare the people (Luke 1:11-17). Zechariah, doubtful given their age, asked for a sign; Gabriel identified himself and struck Zechariah mute as both a sign and a consequence, telling him he would not speak again until the promise was fulfilled (Luke 1:18-20). He emerged from the sanctuary unable to speak, could only gesture to the waiting crowd, and finished his term of service before returning home, after which Elizabeth conceived (Luke 1:21-24).

Zechariah's silence lasted through the pregnancy. At the circumcision and naming of the child, neighbors expected the boy to be named after his father, but Elizabeth insisted on "John." When they turned to Zechariah for confirmation, he wrote "His name is John" on a tablet, and immediately his speech was restored (Luke 1:57-64). Filled with the Holy Spirit, he spoke a prophecy known as the Benedictus, blessing God for redeeming his people and addressing his infant son directly as the prophet who would go before the Lord to prepare his ways (Luke 1:67-79). The Benedictus became one of the enduring canticles of Christian liturgy, historically prayed at morning worship in many traditions.

Extra-biblical evidence

No extra-biblical record of Zechariah survives; priests serving in rotating temple divisions numbered in the thousands, and only Luke's Gospel preserves any account of this particular one.

Scripture references

• Luke 1:5-23 — Gabriel's announcement and Zechariah's silence
• Luke 1:57-66 — John's birth and naming
• Luke 1:67-79 — The Benedictus