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Luke
Zechariah and Elizabeth
1. Zechariah and Elizabeth are important figures in the Gospel of Luke, where their story is intertwined with the birth of John the Baptist, who plays a significant role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ.
2. According to the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah and Elizabeth were an elderly, righteous, and devout Jewish couple living in the hill country of Judea. They were childless, and Elizabeth was unable to conceive. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were descendants of Aaron, making Zechariah a priest of the division of Abijah.
3. The narrative in Luke begins with an account of Zechariah's service in the temple, where he is chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense before the Lord. It is during this sacred duty that the angel Gabriel appears to him, announcing that his prayers have been heard and that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son. This son is to be named John and will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb, and he will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah.
4. Zechariah responds with disbelief, questioning how such a miraculous event could occur given their old age. As a result of his doubt, the angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that he will be unable to speak until the day when these things take place.
5. Subsequently, Elizabeth conceives and remains in seclusion for five months. When she is visited by her relative Mary, who has also received an angelic announcement regarding the birth of Jesus, the unborn John leaps in Elizabeth's womb, and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. She praises Mary and acknowledges the significance of her role as the mother of the Lord.
6. After John's birth, Zechariah's speech is restored, and he prophesies about the role of his son in preparing the way for the Lord, culminating in the well-known Benedictus, a hymn of praise found in Luke 1:68-79.
7. The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke portrays them as faithful servants of God who play a crucial part in the fulfillment of God's plan for salvation. Their miraculous conception and the birth of John the Baptist set the stage for the arrival of Jesus and serve as a testament to God's faithfulness and power.
