Zacharias
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Zechariah the Priest (sources)
- SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Zechariah the Priest (subject)
According to the Christian and Islamic tradition, Zechariah the Priest was the father of John the Baptist.
Overview
Zechariah is mentioned only in the Gospel of Luke. He is introduced as a priest from the division of Abijah and the husband of Elizabeth. The miraculous birth of their son, John the Baptist, was announced to Zechariah by the Angel Gabriel in the Temple. Zechariah was in disbelief as he and his wife were both very old. As a punishment he lost his voice until the birth of his son, when he prophesied the coming of the Messiah.
Later Christian tradition would speculate about the death of Zechariah, claiming that waskilled by Herod at the time of the Massacre of the Innocents.
The Koran also presents Zechariah as a priest and the father of John the Baptist, and emphasized is role as prophet.
Zechariah the Priest in ancient sources
Zechariah the Priest in scholarship
Zechariah the Priest in literature and the arts
References
- / [[]] / In: The Anchor Bible Dictionary (1992 Freedman), dictionary,