Chapter 24: Mourning for Zechariah

1At the hour of greeting, the priests came, but Zechariah did not meet them to bless them, as was customary. The priests stood around waiting for Zechariah, so that they could greet him with a blessing and glorify the Most High God.

2When he was delayed, they all became afraid. But one of them gathered the courage to enter the sanctuary and saw blood clotted beside the altar of the Lord. A voice was saying, “Zechariah has been murdered, and his blood will not be wiped away until his avenger comes!”

3When he heard this saying, he was afraid. He went and reported to the priests what he had seen and heard. They gathered their courage, went in, and saw what had taken place. The panels of the Temple cried out, and they—the priests—tore their clothes from top to bottom. They did not find his corpse, but they found that his blood had turned to stone. They were afraid, and they went out and reported to all the people that Zechariah had been murdered. When all the tribes of the people heard, they mourned for him and wept for three days and three nights.

4After three days, the priests held a council about who should replace Zechariah. The lot fell to Simeon, for the Holy Spirit had told him that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ in the flesh.