Zechariah

THE QUESTION

An angel promised an old priest a son, but he doubted, and he couldn’t speak until the baby was named John. Who was he?

A) Simeon

B) Zechariah ✓

C) Joseph

D) Gabriel

A closer look

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were both very old and had no children. One day, as Zechariah served in the temple, an angel appeared beside the altar. “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,” the angel told him, “and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:7-13). When Zechariah asked how he could be sure, the angel, Gabriel, said he would be silent and unable to speak until it happened (Luke 1:18-20).

When the baby was born, the neighbors wanted to name him after his father. Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately he could speak again, and the first thing he did was praise God (Luke 1:59-64).

If you chose Simeon, you were close: he was another faithful old man at the temple, who took baby Jesus in his arms and praised God (Luke 2:25-28).

Zechariah’s son grew up to be John the Baptist, who pointed everyone to Jesus and said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

We hope this helped you grow in God’s Word today. Now head back to your email and tell us how you liked today’s devotional. 🙏