In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. MANY OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WILL HE BRING BACK TO THE LORD THEIR GOD. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—TO MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “THE LORD HAS DONE THIS FOR ME,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

1
JACOPO DELLA QUERCIA
"Announcement to Zechariah of the Birth of the Baptist"

2
Detail
Source

3
GIOTTO DI BONDONE
"Annunciation to Zacharias"

4
PIETER VAN DER HEYDEN
"Announcement to Zacharias"

5
JAN LUYKEN
"Announcement to Zacharias"

6
JAN LUYKEN
"Announcement to Zacharias"

7
"Annunciation to Zechariah"

8
ALEXANDER ANDREYEVICH IVANOV
"Archangel Gabriel Struck Dumb Zachariah"

9
JOSEPH VILLIET
"Erzengel Gabriel und Zacharias"

10
JAMES TISSOT
"The Vision of Zacharias"

11
DAVID JORIS
"The Archangel Gabriel Appears to Zacharias during
His Priestly Ministry in the Temple of Jerusalem"

12
"The Archangel Gabriel Appears to Zachary"

13
Source

14
PHILIPS GALLE
"Gabriel Appears to Zacharias"

15
GILLIAM VAN DER GOUWEN
"Gabriel Appears to Zacharias"

16
GIOVANNI DI PAOLO
"Annuncio a Zaccaria"

17
CORNELIUS GALLE
Source

18
"The Annunciation to Zacharias"

19
Source

20
ANDREA PISANO
"Annuncio dell'Angelo a Zaccaria"

21
FRANZ MAYER
"Annunciation of the Angel to Zechariah"

22
FRANZ ANTON ZEILLER
"Saint Zachary in the Temple"

23
Source

24
DOMENICO GHIRLANDAIO
"Angel Appearing to Zacharias"

25
Source

26
Source

27
Source

28
Source

29
BONIFAZIO VERONESE
"The Archangel Gabriel Announces
the Birth of John the Baptist"

30
"Gabriel Appears to Zechariah"

31
WILLIAM BLAKE
"The Angel Appearing to Zacharias"

32
LORENZO E JACOPO SALIMBENI
"The Angel Gabriel Announces to Aged Zechariah
the Birth of a Son"

33
Source

34
Source

35
NCMALLORY
"The Angel Gabriel Appearing to Zechariah"

36
Source

37
CHARLES EAMER KEMPE
"Zechariah and Gabriel"

38
JULIUS SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD
"Zacharias im Tempel"

39
"Zacharias und Gabriel"

40
Source

41
"Zechariah"

42
GEORG SCHWEIGGER
"Annunciation to Zacharias"