Gods true prophets were guided by the Holy Spirit. Strong's Number G3162 matches the Greek ( machaira ), which occurs 172 times in 159 verses in the LXX Greek. Zechariahs commitment to Gods will was costly for him it cost him his life! What Happened to Zechariah When His Son was Born? Most Bible scholars see Zechariahs predictions in chapters 7 to 14 as Messianic prophecies. Like you say, two gospel stories begin with a claim that Jesus is a descendant of Davidan appeal to the Davidic lineage. As soon as he had written this response, "his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God" (Luke 1 . While still a virgin, Gabriel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 4:9), Zechariah goes on to describe people mourning for the pierced one as one who has died (Zech. 14 For by a . After returning to his house in "Hebron, in the hill country of Judah",[5] his wife Elizabeth conceived. So when she suddenly became pregnant in her old age, it was truly a miracle from God. The child grew up and "waxed strong in spirit", but remained in the deserts of Juda until he assumed the ministry that was to earn him the name "John the Baptist" (Luke 1:80; 3:23; Matthew 3:1). and he died in 440 B.C. Mahalalel - 895. Our aim is to share the Word and be true to it. Therefore, God appointed Zechariah and Haggai to arouse the Jews to rebuild the temple. Christian evangelist Ravi Zacharias, who built an international ministry with a zealous, intellectual defense of his faith, died following a brief bout . The bible mentions that both mothers were barren. where he discharged the duties of the priesthood, and where he died and was buried by the side of . The gospel writers didnt get hung up on geneticsits best if we dont either. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both quite old when they died. That included the murder of a prophet by the name of Zechariah [not the same man who wrote the 38th book of the Old Testament]. This would put Zechariahs birth around 20 BCE. Zechariah began his ministry 16 years after the return from Babylonian Captivity in 520/519 B.C. In contrast, a woman who is seventy years old and is pregnant can give birth to a healthy baby. This would have happened about 35 years after Jesus died, but before Matthew's Gospel was penned. Haggai was a prophet who, along with Zechariah, encouraged the returned exiles to rebuild the temple (see Ezr 5:1-2; 6:14).Haggai means "festal," which may indicate that the prophet was born during one of the three pilgrimage feasts (Unleavened Bread, Pentecost or Weeks, and Tabernacles; cf. Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit her. and as he died, he said, 'The LORD look on it, and repay!' . Zechariah, who was the guardian of Mary in the Temple, would sometimes go to see Mary. The prophecies of Zechariah came at a time of great perplexity. In the Old Testament, in Zechariah 12:10, the prophet prophesies: "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps . Early Christians, of course, recognized the great war (in which the Temple was destroyed) as sort of a necessary tribulation ending the prior age and preceding the age of God's rule; thus, Jesus' message in today's verse described all of mankind's history from beginning (Abel) to end . John and Elizabeth returned to their home and began to lay plans for the future. Here are five relaxing scents you can use in your bedroom. For the Jews had left off the building of the temple because of enemys opposition under the False Smerdis (522 B.C.). He worked in the temple. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In due time the child was born, and on the eighth day it was circumcised and named John. In Joash and Zechariahs day, why did wrath come upon Judah and Jerusalem? It is likely that Elizabeth was from Judahs line and married a Levite. What a beautiful demonstration of His power and grace. According to the Bible, Zechariah was an old man when John the Baptist was born. Let us not argue with this truth nor be found asking God to forgive those apostates who refuse to abandon their rebellious state. This was a time of great embarrassment to John since the Nazarite vow forbade contact with the dead, even in one's own family. Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet. On Sunday, WFAA spoke with the mother of the victim who died. However, it is rare to give birth to a child older than ten, as the risk of stillbirth increases with age. Cyrus died, and his son, Cambyses II, succeeded him and . Seriously? Jack Zavada. John would go on to become one of the most influential figures in Christianity, and his birth marked an important moment in religious history. It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. W.D. Zechariah and Elizabeth are old and have no children: similar to how Abraham and Sarah were before the birth of Isaac. The Roman Catholic Church honors him with a feast day assigned to September 6. Who were the Essenes? 458 BC - Second group returns with Ezra. Bible Based.We believe in solo-scriptura. What was zacharius reaction to Marys conception was he her advocate.God did communicate to him as he was a prophet . The angel replies, I am Gabriel (a name Zechariah may have recognized from the book of Daniel), and then tells Zechariah that he will be mute until the message comes to pass. On the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, his feast day is February 8. When Zechariah saw John for the first time, he knew that this child was special. Helmut Zacharias would have been 82 years old at the time of death or 95 years old today. Joseph, to whom Mary was betrothed, found out that she was pregnant, obviously disturbing news. As the oldest woman in the Bible, Zechariah was about 30 years old when Jesus was born. Priests worked in the temple and made sacrifice for the people. This would put Elizabeths age somewhere between 50-60 years old. Was John the Baptist an Essene? because of their trespass (24:18). Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Zechariah as depicted by James Tissot. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had never had any children and now they were too old. The Sad End of a Good King. One who thinks he can find an equal or better form of prosperity is only deceiving himself! So important, in fact, that when Luke writes down the account of Christs life on earth, he begins with Zechariah. May 19, 2020, 10:49 AM PDT. Zechariah is offering incense when we meet him in the book of Luke (Lk 1:9). Concordance Results Shown Using the NLT. Tools. However, following Jehoiadas death, Joash led Gods people down the wrong path. The birth of John the Baptist was the first step toward salvation. The name (Heb. Eventually, Joash was defeated at the hands of a foreign army, and he was injured. The divine record of the reign of Joash, a king of ancient Judah, is mixed. During the years that he was guided by Jehoiada, a faithful priest of God, Joash did some good things for the nation. What is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth? This was a relatively late age for a woman to have her first child in those days, but it was not unheard of. No, it should not happen, but it does. Before Jesus came and died on the cross, people worshipped in a building called a temple. However, it is reasonable to assume that she died not long after her husband since they were of a similar age. As soon as Zechariah had written on a writing table: "His name is John", he regained the power of speech, and blessed "the Lord God of Israel" with a prophecy known as the Benedictus or "Song of Zechariah" (Luke 1:5779). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In the story of the two men, a boy was born and the girl was seven. Zechariah, as part of his priestly duties in the temple, was chosen to enter the Holy Place to burn incense before the Lord (verse 8). Those who refuse to accept and walk in harmony with the commands of God cannot prosper. Zechariah[a][1] was a person in the Hebrew Bible traditionally considered the author of the Book of Zechariah, the eleventh of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Both Zechariah and Mary sing praises to God, through Elizabeth's inspiration. Luke 1:24, 25, 39-45, NW. Their children were probably born six months before Jesus was born. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But he preferred to remain single, focusing his life on the service of God and the good of his people. [8] When he saw the angel, he was terrified. Again, its possible that Mary also had some Davidic blood, but not necessary. And he was right! One year his name was chosen to enter the Holy of Holies, to minister at the altar of incense, and to make morning and evening intercession for the people. However . A boy from Florida got a hero's welcome Monday in Tennessee as he continued his mission to honor law enforcement officers across the nation. It was a sad thing in those days to have no children. Luke doesnt record Zechariahs prayer. The Eastern Orthodox Church also celebrates the feast day of Zechariah on September 5, together with Elizabeth, who is considered a matriarch. Zacharias had been battling sarcoma and . RZIM released an independent report by . Elizabeth gave birth, and on the eighth day, when their son was to be circumcised according to the commandment, her neighbours and relatives assumed that he was to be named after his father. Book of Zechariah. Real Answers. As John the Baptist's father, Zechariah played a key role in God's plan of salvation because of his righteousness and obedience. Zechariah was 84 years old when he passed away, and Elizabeth was 63 years old. The whole Gospel story is built on the Davidic lineage, and this includes both Mary and Josephs lineage is given to prove this. Both lived relatively long lives for their time periods. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This was the opinion of some who thought that he was risen from the dead, as in Luke 9:7. but some say Elias; the prophet, and the Tishbite; who according to the Jewish notion, was to be the forerunner of the Messiah, so in Luke 7:8. and others say: that one of the old prophets is risen again; thus were they divided in their sentiments about him. If you feel an answer is not 100% Bible based, then leave a comment, and we'll be sure to review it. According to the gospel of Luke, Zechariah was about 60 to 70 years old when Gabriel visited his wife. Updated on September 15, 2020. The Scriptures describe Elizabeth as a woman who is "righteous in the eyes of God, careful to obey all of the Lord's commands and regulations" (Luke 1:6). The apparent fact that Jeshua's life spanned the entire captivity-punishment of Israel adds an additional dimension to Zechariah 3.) Jehoiada the priest was a good leavening influence in Judah (2 Chronicles 22:10-24:16). What Happened to Zechariah the Father of John the Baptist. Required fields are marked *. (18) Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. Both lived relatively long lives for their time periods. The High Stakes of the Roundup Cancer Lawsuit: Why Billions of Dollars are on the Line, 5 Ways to Get Money for Investment Property, Vintage Portraits From Photos: A Timeless Expression Of Character, Top Vacation Home Marketing Strategies to Maximize Profit. This suggests to some scholars that it is the burial place of Zechariah the father of John the Baptist. The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Zechariah (Hebrew: Zaryh, "remember Yah"; Greek: ; Zacharias in KJV; Zachary in the DouayRheims Bible; Zakariyya (Arabic: , romanized:Zakariyy) in Islamic tradition) is a figure in the New Testament and the Quran,[2] and venerated in Christianity and Islam. Theresa, I dig into this question on my list of facts about Mary. Mandarin - Main Auditorium (Building B) Zechariah was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible, and according to tradition, he was also the author of the Book of Zechariah. Some believe that Elizabeth died quietly of old age, leaving John's upbringing to this famous Qumran community. [7] He is also venerated as a prophet in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on 5 September. (21) So they conspired against him, and at the commandment of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD. Nevertheless, she joyfully welcomed Mary into her home and praised God for His goodness in sending His Son. The angel told her that she was the father of a baby boy. CNN . Long story short: Marys probably a Levite, but the fact that Mary was marrying Joseph (from Judah) implies that the tribes were already intermarrying. Some scholars believe that Zechariah may have been as old as 80 years old when John was born. [3] In the Bible he is the father of John the Baptist, a priest of the sons of Aaron in the Gospel of Luke (1:6779), and the husband of Elizabeth who is a relative of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:36). how old was zechariah when he died. The Engedi colony included not only Nazarites of lifelong and time-period consecration but numerous other ascetic herdsmen who congregated in this region with their herds and fraternized with the Nazarite brotherhood. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Elizabeth exhibits numerous treasured . Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah, and entered into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. The Gospel of James, a 2nd-century apocryphal work, recounts that, at the time of the massacre of the Innocents, when King Herod ordered the slaughter of all males under the age of two in an attempt to prevent the prophesied Messiah from coming to Israel, Zechariah refused to divulge the whereabouts of his son (who was in hiding), and he was therefore murdered by Herod's soldiers. The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary, Jewish Yad Avshalom revealed as a Christian shrine from Byzantine era, Prophet Zachariah the father of St John the Baptist, Current Ummah of Islam (Ummah of Muhammad), ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttalib ibn Hashim, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zechariah_(New_Testament_figure)&oldid=1139181978, Pages with numeric Bible version references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Mother Abiona or Amtelai the daughter of Karnebo. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Did he rebuke the slanderers and uphold her chastity and vitrtuosity? Professor Gideon Foerster at the Hebrew University states that the inscription tallies with a 6th-century Christian text by a pilgrim named Theodosius which states that Zechariah was buried with Simon the Elder and James the brother of Jesus, and believes that both are authentic. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In the so-called "wilderness of Judea" John tended his sheep along a brook that was tributary to a larger stream which entered the Dead Sea at Engedi. Although we dont know her exact age, we do know that she was considered to be old enough to be barren and have long since given up hope of ever having children. 12:10-14). He knew that God had big plans for him. Old Zechariah exclaimed poetically that "the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give . At that time, the Jews permission to rebuild the temple was about to be canceled. A priest is someone whose responsibilities included offering sacrifices and taking care of the Temple of the Lord, and blessing the Lords name (1 Chr 23:13). And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. Luke 1:36 KJV. The Holy Bible: New International Version. John grew up to be a great prophet who preached about Jesus Christ the Savior of the world! God worked a miracle in his life to provide a herald to announce the coming of the Messiah, another indication that the . 3:1). If this is a reference to the prophet Zechariah, then we know how Zechariah diedhe was murdered in the temple courtyard. His prophecy took place in the 4th year of Darius. Zechariah was a priest in the Jerusalem temple. God forsakes forsakers. . 1:1; Haggai 1:1). Whatever the reason, Elizabeth and Zacharias were undoubtedly overjoyed when their son was born healthy and perfect in every way. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he also has forsaken you. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Elizabeth in the Bible is the wife of Zechariah, mother of John the Baptist, and a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus. Historians and theologians agree that Jesus was approximately thirty-three years old at the time of His crucifixion. October 13, 2019 / 1 Comment / in Weekly Devotional / by David Guzik. Most of our stories of Jesus birth start with an angel speaking to either Mary or Joseph, right? In what way was John the Baptist the greatest (Matthew 11:11)? As time passed, John returned less often to Hebron, while he made more frequent visits to Engedi. Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich said he brought thousands of offenders to justice, bringing closure to victims . His best-selling book, Can Man Live Without God . Some . Why was Zechariah killed, and what circumstances led up to that tragedy? Here is what the Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 24:17-22: . Thanks. Lesson Guide - Zechariah. David, did you read the post I linked to earlier in this thread? Zechariah and Elizabeth are invoked in several prayers during the Orthodox Mystery of Crowning (Sacrament of Marriage), as the priest blesses the newly married couple, saying "Thou who didst accept Zechariah and Elizabeth, and didst make their offspring the Forerunner" and "bless them, O Lord our God, as Thou didst Zechariah and Elizabeth". Since my son died, I've been told to expect that some of the hardest times will be the "firsts"the first time back at church, the first March 5 (his birthday), the first May 8 (the day he was to be married), and yes, the first Christmas. Citing their advanced age, Zechariah asked with disbelief for a sign whereby he would know the truth of this prophecy. His greatest concern appears to have been with the building of the Second Temple. Although John had endeavored to comply with the restrictions of his vow regarding contamination by the dead, he doubted that he had been wholly obedient to the requirements of the Nazarite order; therefore, after his father's burial he went to Jerusalem, where, in the Nazarite corner of the women's court, he offered the sacrifices required for his cleansing. He did it because he had compassion on his people (36:15). Subscribe our newsletter to stay updated. Luke tells us that both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were blameless when it came to the Torah: they observed all the Lords decrees and commands (Lk 1:6). They both prayed to God for a son, and both dedicated their children to God. . The Art of Self Meditation: What Are the Benefits? Lamech was 182 when Noah was born and according to the Bible's timeline, Adam was still alive for the first 56 years of Lamech's life. Indeed, 2 Chronicles 24:20 does mention "Zechariah the son of Jehoiada" who was stoned "in the court of the house of the Lord" (24:21). Gods does not exhibit wrath arbitrarily. Zechariah ( Hebrew: Zaryh, "remember Yah "; Greek: ; Zacharias in KJV; Zachary in the Douay-Rheims Bible; Zakariyya ( Arabic: , romanized : Zakariyy) in Islamic tradition) is a figure in the New Testament and the Quran, [2] and venerated in Christianity and Islam. Omissions? The angel tells Zechariah that his wife will bear a son: one who will go before the Lord (Jesus). The same thing happened in Israel after Joshua died (Judges 2:7,10), and it was not Joshuas fault. TRUTH is published monthly by the Klang church of Christ in order to help educate, edify, encourage, and equip the saints of God. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Zacharias was of a priestly family and that involved spiritual duties. Let us learn all of these lessons well. actual Old Testament bible? 11 And every priest stands h daily at his service, i offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, j which can never take away sins. Corrections? 723. When God toldAbraham that his wife Sarah would bear a son, Sarah laughed at the idea (Gn 18:1115). When Gods faithful preachers proclaim his truth today, do not be surprised if some hearers, including weak members of the Lords church, turn against the messenger of truth. 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.". Zechariah ben Jehoiada Possible allusion by Jesus, Tomb of the Prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zechariah_(Hebrew_prophet)&oldid=1116483730, This page was last edited on 16 October 2022, at 20:24. This would likely mean that Zechariah was at least 60 years old when John was born. The Catholic Church commemorates him as a saint, along with Elizabeth, on September 23rd as it is believed that his temple duty before John the Baptist's conception took place on the Day of Atonement. Some people believe that John may have been as old as 30 when Jesus was born, but most scholars believe he was closer to 20. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:5) who was a Levite. Zechariah is thought to have been born around 520 BCE, and he died around 458 BCE. Because he "was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. And Jotham the king's son was over the royal house, judging the people of the land. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. (19) Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen. He was the son of Berechiah and Iddo, and he lived in the Land of Israel during the Second Temple period. Work resumes on temple. The Zechariah in question is simply unknown. One of their duties was to make sure that incense was burning before the Lord at all times. Page 1 / 4 (Gen 22:6-2Ch 23:21) View NT results in the TR Greek concordance. What are the Gnostic Gospels? Claim to fame: Uzziah did many great public works while he followed the Lord his God Worst betrayal: Uzziah disobeyed God by usurping the role of the priests in the temple Bible Verses about Uzziah. [10][11] Zias and Puech suggest the inscription may refer to another 'Zekariah' mentioned by Josephus and the Talmud who was martyred in the time of Vespasian. Further-more, he is of the opinion that by saying "from the blood of righteous In contrast, a woman who is seventy years old and is pregnant can give birth to a healthy baby. This amazing story reminds us that God can do anything, even use an elderly woman to give birth! So much so that he questioned whether the angel had made a mistake. Zechariah was the son of Berechiah and the grandson of Iddo. Even though John was younger than Jesus, he played a very important role in preparing the way for him. Despite the rebellion of His people, God kept on sending prophets to testify against them. That is just what Zechariah told the people: Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? (24:20). True, meaningful, lasting prosperity can be achieved in only one fashion: walking with the Creator. In their culture, having no children meant that your family line endedOld Testament characters (like Job and Jacob) were blessed with many children. By David K. Li. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Because he doubted that this could happen in his lifetime, Zechariah was struck mute until the baby was born (Luke 1:20). 2:16). The 12 tribes were all related. This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. Eventually, Jehodia had died at a very old age of 130. [2] The Book of Ezra names Zechariah as the son of Iddo,[3] but it is likely that Berechiah was Zechariah's father, and Iddo was his grandfather. Zechariah is offering incense when we meet him in the book of . (Hence Joseph being named in both genealogies, and Mary only in the one that most people dont think is hers.). 63/77x = Phrase found 63 times in Ezekiel out of all 77 uses in the Old Testament Click here for list of these verses Ezekiel 1:1 says "the 30 th year" and it appears in context to refer to Ezekiel's age of 30 years, the year in fact that Ezekiel would have been eligible for priesthood (see Nu 4:3), he begins his prophetic ministry. . He founded RZIM in 1984, and the organization has grown to about 200 employees in 16 offices around the world, with more than 70 traveling speakers. Zechariah and Elizabeth were a couple of obedient people. Ravi Zacharias, who spent his life defending Christianity through books and lectures, has died. He had seen the rise and fall of empires, the coming and going of kings, and the birth and death of many people. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. Luke 1:36 NASB and the king James says cousin. He had been unable to speak since the day of his sons birth, but when he was finally able to talk again, he praised God for His goodness. Well, when Luke kicks off his story of Jesus, he begins with an angel speaking to Jesus relative, Zechariah. When Jesus began his ministry, John recognized him as the long-awaited Savior. He was so entirely different from the majority of the Nazarites that he found it very difficult fully to fraternize with the brotherhood. [4] Luke states that during the week when it was the duty of Zechariah's family line to serve at "the temple of the Lord", the lot for performing the incense offering had fallen to Zechariah (Luke 1:811). Zechariah and Elizabeth, by God's grace and compassion, were spared the . The Book of Zechariah introduces him as the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo. The evangelist states that both the parents were righteous before God, since they were "blameless" in observing the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. The baby Jesus was a boy. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron, and the Bible says they were godly, devout people ( Luke 1:5-6 ). alhambra unified school covid dashboard / daily money saving challenge / degree scholarship 2020 / how old was zechariah when he died It is the Zechariah in 2 Chronicles, and Jehoiada is his grandfather; Berekiah, his unnamed father. After an illness of several months Zacharias died in July, A.D. 12, when John was just past eighteen years of age. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Which slanderers? When . After bidding Jesus and Mary good-bye at the end of this enjoyable visit, John did not again see Jesus until the event of his baptism in the Jordan. [4] His prophetical career probably began in the second year of Darius the Great, king of the Achaemenid Empire (520 BCE). From then on, not much is said about Zechariah other than that he and Elizabeth were both righteous before God and blameless in obeying all of his commands and requirements (Luke 1:6). Here is what the Bible tells us in 2 Chronicles 24:17-22: (17) Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Many scholars believe Jesus was referring to the Zechariah mentioned in 2 Chronicles 24:20-21. We can assume that since they were obedient to Gods will for their lives, they continued raising John in a godly home. Consequently, when he went out to the waiting worshippers in the temple's outer courts, he was unable to speak the customary blessing (Luke 1:1822). When the events related in Luke began, their marriage was still childless, because Elizabeth was "barren", and they were both "well advanced in years" (Luke 1:57).