Sign in
LUKE 1:12 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Luke 1:11Luke 1:13
“And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.”
When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear — the startled fear (etarachthē, deeply disturbed) and fear (phobos) are the standard human responses to genuine angelic appearance throughout Scripture. The reaction is not exaggerated but appropriate: the encounter with the genuinely supernatural produces terror in the most faithful person. The fear is not a failure but the beginning of the response to revelation — the same fear that will be addressed by the angel's first words.

Church Fathers on Luke 1:12

When Zacharias entered into the temple to offer up prayers to God for all men, interceding between God and man, he saw an angel standing within, as it is said, And there appeared to him an angel.

Chrysostom · 4th century

It is well said that there appeared an angel to Zacharias, who suddenly beheld him; and this is the expression especially used by Divine Scripture with respect to angels or God, that what cannot be seen beforehand may be said to appear. For things which are the objects of our senses are not seen as He is seen, Who is seen only as He will, and Whose nature is not to be seen.

Ambrose · 4th century

And we speak thus not only of the present time, but also of the future. When we shall have passed from the world, God will not appear to all men, nor will the angels, but to him only who has a clean heart. The place will neither hinder nor serve any one.

Origen · 3rd century
Read all 20 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!
Luke 1:12 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy