so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Birth Announcement of John the Baptist

During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron.

Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,

And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.”

Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the Holy Place.

and entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God.

Zechariah’s Praise and Prediction

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation.