Luke 1:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When God finally drew near to an old priest at the altar, the answer to a lifetime of prayer arrived as a holy terror.
The Context of Luke 1:12
Zacharias, an aged priest of the course of Abia, has been chosen by lot to burn incense in the temple, the holiest task of his life. As the crowd prays outside, an angel appears at the right side of the altar of incense. This is the opening scene of Luke's Gospel, the first hinge of the whole story.
What Does Luke 1:12 Mean?
Zacharias has waited a long time. He and Elisabeth are old and childless, and the verse just before this tells us he is alone in the holy place when the angel appears. His first reaction is dread. The sight troubles him, and fear falls on him like a weight, the way it falls on every person in Scripture who suddenly finds heaven looking back at them. The nearness of God is overwhelming. It shakes a man even at the altar he has served all his life.
The angel's very next words are the words Christ would make His own: 'Fear not' (verse 13). This is how the Gospel begins, with a frightened old man hearing that his prayer was heard. The same gentleness that steadies Zacharias here would walk the roads of Galilee and still storms with a word. God comes near, and the trembling is real, yet the message that follows is always mercy.
Luke 1:12 in the Original Language
tarasso (ταράσσω), 'troubled' -- stirred up, agitated, the inward shaking of a settled soul.
How to Apply Luke 1:12 Today
The honest fear of Zacharias gives us room to admit our own. When God draws near, it can unsettle us before it comforts us, and that is no sign of failing faith. The word that always follows is 'Fear not,' and it is spoken to us by the One who heard our prayers long before we knew it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 1:12
What does Luke 1:12 mean?
When God finally drew near to an old priest at the altar, the answer to a lifetime of prayer arrived as a holy terror.
What is the context of Luke 1:12?
Zacharias, an aged priest of the course of Abia, has been chosen by lot to burn incense in the temple, the holiest task of his life. As the crowd prays outside, an angel appears at the right side of the altar of incense. This is the opening scene of Luke's Gospel, the first hinge of the whole story.
How can I apply Luke 1:12 today?
The honest fear of Zacharias gives us room to admit our own. When God draws near, it can unsettle us before it comforts us, and that is no sign of failing faith. The word that always follows is 'Fear not,' and it is spoken to us by the One who heard our prayers long before we knew it.