Lives of Scripture

Zacharias, a priest of the division of Abijah, was serving his turn burning incense in the temple when the angel Gabriel appeared to announce that his wife Elizabeth, both of them 'advanced in years' and previously barren, would bear a son to be named John, who would go before the Lord 'in the spirit and power of Elijah' to prepare His way (Luke 1:5-17). Zacharias asked for proof: 'How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years' (1:18) -- and Gabriel's response was pointed: because Zacharias did not believe, he would be mute until the day these things took place (1:19-20). Zacharias emerged from the temple unable to explain to the waiting crowd what he had seen, communicating only by signs for the length of Elizabeth's pregnancy (1:21-23, 62-64). When the baby was born and neighbors assumed he would be named after his father, Elizabeth insisted on the name John; when Zacharias confirmed it in writing, 'his mouth was opened... and he began to speak in praise of God' (1:57-64). Immediately he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied at length -- the Benedictus -- blessing God for raising up a horn of salvation in David's house and describing his own son's calling to prepare the way of the Lord and give His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins (1:67-79).