Luke 1:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He witnessed an extraordinary phenomenon, a fiery entity that spoke, a formless figure, a reality beyond comparison, a vision unparalleled, a man moving rapidly through the sky, a celestial being resembling humanity – and upon seeing this, he was filled with great unease.

The angel Gabriel approached Zacharias rather than his wife Elizabeth, the mother of John. The reason for this is that John was to be conceived in Elizabeth through Zacharias. Thus, when the angel delivered the message of John’s impending birth, he directed his announcement to Zacharias, the source of the seed, rather than to the womb. He proclaimed that both would have a son, but the message was given to the father, emphasizing that John's origin would come from the union of man and woman. Likewise, the same Gabriel appeared again to Mary instead of to Joseph, highlighting the point of origin for the incarnation, the very commencement of birth, to whom the angel was sent.

The archangel banishes fear, which serves as a sign for you as well: when the soul is plagued by fear, it originates from adversarial forces. For demons do not eliminate fear, as the mighty archangel Gabriel did with Mary and Zechariah.

Do not let your heart be troubled at the sight of an angel, even though we often feel bewildered and timid in the presence of divine beings. The same angel who has come to us can also provide us with strength, just as he once fortified the spirit of the bewildered Zacharias: Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son, and you shall name him John, and you will find joy, and many will rejoice at his birth (Luke 1:13-14).

He shouted, convinced that his end was near.

It is evident that the heavenly beings were the first to enter into the sacred mystery of Christ's humanity, and subsequently, the enlightening grace began to flow through them to humanity. Likewise, the angel Gabriel revealed to the priestly leader Zacharias the astonishing truth that a son, destined to be born to him by God's grace, would emerge as a prophet heralding the powerful divine work of Jesus for the benefit and salvation of all. Additionally, Gabriel imparted to Mary the revelation that within her would be conceived the incomprehensible wonder of divine creation.

But 'Zacharias was troubled when he saw it.' This marks the initial response to the heavenly visitation. It is only natural to be unsettled upon encountering a being from another realm. Those in the earthly domain instinctively react with trepidation to such appearances. However, in Zacharias, we see more than simple bewilderment: 'and fear came upon him.' This wording indicates a profound disturbance; his spirit was agitated, his thoughts were bewildered, and his understanding clouded. Zacharias spoke out of turn, for the temple was a sacred place shielded from evil presences. Was it possible for an unclean spirit to appear amid incense and prayer? Zacharias served in the temple only twice each year and entered the sanctuary even more rarely, always with solemnity and awe.

The Jewish understanding held that the presence of an angel signified the approaching death of the individual to whom the angel was sent, and thus the fear that encompassed all who embraced this belief also seized the elderly priest.

While he was engaged in prayer, with a deep yearning in his heart for the gift of children, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him. This occurrence was remarkable, as tradition held no examples of an angel visiting a humble priest during the penitential offering, despite two recorded instances of angels appearing to the high priests on the Day of Atonement. It is no surprise that ‘Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear came upon him.’

The elder priest, standing in the solitude of the Sanctuary before God's presence and surrounded by sacred artifacts, likely experienced a profound sense of reverent awe and trepidation. This emotional state, filled with an awareness of divine majesty, would naturally lead to feelings of discomfort. Such emotions would have been even more intense with the unexpected arrival of a celestial being in this hallowed and enigmatic setting, particularly considering the ancient Jewish belief that the appearance of an angel signified the approach of death (Judges 13:22, Judges 6:22-23). Thus, it is entirely understandable that the holy priest would be gripped by both confusion and fear upon witnessing the Angel of God. Indeed, "An extraordinary vision confounds also the saints" (Theophil.).

It was not long before Zechariah placed the incense on the altar, yet this time he hesitated due to a remarkable vision. On the right side of the altar, he beheld an angel. The startling sight caused Zechariah to tremble, likely due to its peculiar nature and the ancient Jewish belief that seeing an angel often signaled the approach of death (Judges 6:22-23; 13:22). "Do not be afraid, Zechariah!" the heavenly messenger initiated, reassuring the bewildered elder that the message of joy was meant to bring happiness, not fear. Your prayer has been answered, and your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son, and you shall name him John. The request you made for the coming of the Messiah has been heard, and soon the long-awaited Messiah will arrive.