¹⁹ Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.^(A)

²⁰ Then the Spirit^(B) of God came on Zechariah^(C) son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.^(D) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken^(E) you.’”

²¹ But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned^(F) him to death^(G) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.^(H)

³² Go ahead, then, and complete^(A) what your ancestors started!^(B)

³³ “You snakes! You brood of vipers!^(C) How will you escape being condemned to hell?^{(D) 34} Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;^(E) others you will flog in your synagogues^(F) and pursue from town to town.^{(G) 35} And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel^(H) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,^(I) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.^(J)