Zechariah & Elizabeth (Luke 1:5–25; Luke 1:36; Luke 1:39–45; Luke 1:57–80)

Parents of John the Baptist

A priest of the course of Abijah and his wife, a daughter of Aaron, both righteous before God and childless in old age, to whom the angel Gabriel promised a son, John, who would make ready a people for the Lord.

The Gospel of Luke begins its account with a scene set “in the days of Herod, king of Judæa” (Luke 1:5). Zechariah was a priest of the course of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was “of the daughters of Aaron” (Luke 1:5). “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6). Yet “they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years” (Luke 1:7).

While Zechariah burned incense in the temple, an angel stood at the altar and said, “thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John” (Luke 1:13). Zechariah asked, “Whereby shall I know this?” (Luke 1:18), and was made silent until the child was named (Luke 1:20; Luke 1:64). Elizabeth said, “Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men” (Luke 1:25).

When the child was born, Elizabeth said he should be called John, and Zechariah wrote, “His name is John” (Luke 1:63). His mouth was opened, and he blessed God and prophesied (Luke 1:64–79).

Strengths

• Righteousness
• Faithful service
• Praise
• Spirit-led speech

Weaknesses

• Doubt before the promise

Themes

• Righteousness
• Answered prayer
• Barrenness and God's mercy
• The forerunner
• Praise

The angel appears to Zechariah in the temple (Luke 1:5–23)

While Zechariah burns incense, Gabriel promises a son named John; Zechariah asks how he can know it, and is made silent.

The angel appears to Zechariah in the temple

“And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense” (Luke 1:11). The angel said of the son, “he shall be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15), and that he would “make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him” (Luke 1:17).

Zechariah said, “Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years” (Luke 1:18). The angel answered, “thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words” (Luke 1:20).

Elizabeth conceives (Luke 1:23–25)

After Zechariah returns home, Elizabeth conceives and says the Lord has taken away her reproach.

Elizabeth blesses Mary (Luke 1:36; Luke 1:39–45)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth greets Mary, her kinswoman, and calls her blessed.

John is born and named (Luke 1:57–66)

Elizabeth says the child shall be called John; Zechariah writes His name is John, and his mouth is opened.

John is born and named

On the eighth day the neighbors “would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father” (Luke 1:59). “And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John” (Luke 1:60).

They made signs to his father, “and he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John” (Luke 1:63). “And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God” (Luke 1:64).

Zechariah prophesies (Luke 1:67–80)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Zechariah blesses the Lord for raising up a horn of salvation and speaks of his son as the prophet of the Most High.

John the Baptist (Luke 1:13; Luke 1:57–63)

Their son, promised by the angel and named John.

Gabriel (Luke 1:11–20)

The angel who stood in the presence of God and brought Zechariah the promise.

Mary (Luke 1:36; Luke 1:39–45)

Elizabeth's kinswoman, who came to her house and was blessed by her.

Their neighbors and kinsfolk (Luke 1:58–66)

Rejoiced with Elizabeth at the birth and wondered at the child's name.

Major sections

• Luke 1:5–25
• Luke 1:39–45
• Luke 1:57–80

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