Who Was Zacharias the Priest in the Bible?

Zacharias, also spelled Zechariah, was a priest who lived during the reign of Herod the Great. He and his wife Elisabeth were 'both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.' Yet they had no child, for Elisabeth was barren, and 'they both were now well stricken in years.' This was a source of deep sorrow in a culture where children were seen as God's blessing and barrenness as a reproach. Zacharias belonged to the course of Abijah (Abia), one of the twenty-four priestly divisions established by David. When his division was on duty, the priests cast lots to determine who would burn incense in the holy place. Zacharias was chosen — a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. While he was burning incense before the Lord, the angel Gabriel appeared to him at the right side of the altar of incense. Zacharias was 'troubled,' and 'fear fell upon him.' Gabriel delivered astonishing news: 'Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.' Zacharias asked for a sign, doubting because of his age: 'Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.' Gabriel identified himself and declared that because Zacharias did not believe, he would be mute until the prophecy was fulfilled. When Zacharias came out of the temple, the people perceived that he had seen a vision, for he 'beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.' Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months. When John was born, the neighbors and cousins sought to name him Zacharias after his father. But Elisabeth insisted, 'He shall be called John.' Zacharias, still mute, wrote on a tablet, 'His name is John.' Immediately his mouth was opened, and he prophesied the Benedictus — one of the great songs of the New Testament, praising God for visiting His people and raising up a horn of salvation. Zacharias's story illustrates the faithfulness of God to long-delayed prayers, the cost of unbelief, and the wonder of God's sovereign timing. An old priest's routine duty became the moment of miracle, and a barren womb became the womb of the greatest prophet born of women.