Zechariah, the priest

A priest during New Testament times and the father of John the Baptist. He and his wife, Elizabeth, both followed God’s commands, but were childless until their old age. One day while Zechariah was burning incense in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to announce that Zechariah and Elizabeth would have a son. Zechariah didn’t believe and asked for some sign that the angel’s words were true. He was given a sign: he would not be able to speak until his son was born. Zechariah and his wife rejoiced at their son’s birth and named him John.