Who is Zechariah and what is his role in the Infancy Narrative?

• A. Zechariah is a Roman governor who oversees Judea
• B. Zechariah is a scribe who writes the law
• C. Zechariah is a Jewish priest and the father of John the Baptist, representing the transition from the Old Testament to the New.
• D. Zechariah is a fisherman who journeys with Jesus

Answer: (C)

Zechariah is a Jewish priest serving in the temple, and in the Infancy Narrative his story sets up John the Baptist’s birth and mission. Luke presents him as the father of John, a dedicated Israelite who, along with Elizabeth, embodies faithfulness under the old covenant. The angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zechariah shows that God is starting a new chapter in salvation history: John will prepare the people for the Lord, signaling the transition toward the coming Messiah. Zechariah’s temporary mute response to the divine message underscores the seriousness and divine origin of this moment, and when John is born, Zechariah blesses God and proclaims a future of salvation through a Messiah. In this way, Zechariah’s role ties Israel’s covenant faith to the new work Jesus will accomplish, with John acting as the bridge between the old and the new.