Chapter 23: The Murder of Zechariah

1But Herod asked for John and sent officers to Zechariah, saying to him, “Where are you hiding your son?”

2But he replied to them, “I am a minister of God, and I sit in God’s Temple. How should I know where my son is?”

3And his officers went away and reported all these things to Herod. And Herod became angry and said, “His son is about to become king over Israel!”

4And he sent his officers again to say to him, “Tell me the truth. Where is your son? You know that your life is in my hand.”

5And the officers went away and reported these things to him.

6And Zechariah said, “I am a martyr of God if you shed my blood, because the Lord will receive my spirit, since you will be spilling innocent blood at the entrance of the Temple of the Lord.”

7And around daybreak, Zechariah was murdered, and the people of Israel did not know that he had been murdered.