Zechariah, father of John the Baptist

thumb|The “Holy Family with Saint Zechariah, Saint Elizabeth, and Saint John the Baptist” by Luca Signorelli Saint Zechariah was a Jewish priest mentioned in the New Testament and the Quran, and venerated in Christianity and Islam. He is the husband of Saint Elizabeth and the father of John the Baptist. Quotes Gospel of Luke But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. [...] And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” Luke 1,13-14;18 NKJV Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; / he has come to his people and set them free. / He has raised up for us a mighty savior, / born of the house of his servant David. / Through his holy prophets he promised of old / that he would save us from our enemies, / from the hands of all who hate us. / He promised to show mercy to our fathers / and to remember his holy covenant. Benedictus, International Commission on English in the Liturgy You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; / for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, / to give his people knowledge of salvation / by the forgiveness of their sins. Benedictus, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Quotes about thumb|Zechariah and Gabriel the Archangel (by Aleksandr Andreevič Ivanov, 1824) Gospel of Luke There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. Luke 1:5-7 NKJV So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:8-14 NKJV And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” Luke 1:19-25 (NKJV) Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58 When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62 So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Luke 1:59-64 NKJV See also Elizabeth (biblical figure) John the Baptist External links Saint Zachary Category:BCE births Category:1st century deaths Category:Saints Category:Jews