John the Baptist

===In Luke and Acts===
{{Main|Nativity of Saint John the Baptist}}
[[File:Piero, battesimo di cristo 04.jpg|thumb|[[The Baptism of Christ (Piero della Francesca)|''The Baptism of Jesus Christ'', by Piero della Francesca]], {{c.|1448–50}}]]

The [[Gospel of Luke]] adds an account of John's infancy, introducing him as the miraculous son of [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]], an old priest, and his wife [[Elizabeth (biblical figure)|Elizabeth]], who was past [[menopause]] and therefore unable to have children.<ref>Libby Ahluwalia, ''Understanding Philosophy of Religion'' (Folens, 2008), p. 180.</ref><ref>Just, Arthur A.; Oden, Thomas C. (2003), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Gh6sFDUfq8cC&q=%22barrenness+and+virginity%22&pg=PA10 Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture – Luke: New Testament III] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405002933/https://books.google.com/books?id=Gh6sFDUfq8cC&q=%22barrenness+and+virginity%22&pg=PA10 |date=5 April 2023 }}'', InterVarsity Press; p. 10. {{ISBN|978-0830814886}}</ref><ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|1:7|9}}</ref> According to this account, the birth of John was foretold by the angel [[Gabriel]] to Zechariah while he was performing his functions as a priest in the temple of Jerusalem. Since he is described as a priest of the course of [[Abijah]] and Elizabeth as one of the [[daughters of Aaron]],<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|1:5|NRSV}}</ref> this would make John a descendant of [[Aaron]] on both his father's and mother's side.<ref>'Aaron', In: Mills, Watson E. (ed.) (1998) ''Mercer Dictionary of the Bible'', Vol. 5, Macon GA: Mercer University Press, {{ISBN|0-86554-299-6}}; p. 1</ref> On the basis of this account, the Catholic as well as the Anglican and Lutheran liturgical calendars placed the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist on 24 June, six months before Christmas.<ref name="Lives">{{cite book|last=Englebert|first=Omer|title=The Lives of the Saints|place=[[New York City|New York]]|publisher=Barnes & Noble|isbn=978-1-56619-516-4|year=1951|page=[https://archive.org/details/livesofsaintshis00omer/page/529 529]|url=https://archive.org/details/livesofsaintshis00omer/page/529}}</ref>

Elizabeth is described as a "relative" of Mary the mother of Jesus, in Luke 1:36.<ref>{{Bibleref2|Luke|1:36|NIV}}</ref> There is no mention of a family relationship between John and Jesus in the other Gospels, and [[Raymond E. Brown]] has described it as "of dubious [[historicity]]".<ref>Brown, Raymond Edward (1973), ''The Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus'', Paulist Press, p. 54</ref> [[Geza Vermes|Géza Vermes]] has called it "artificial and undoubtedly Luke's creation".<ref>Vermes, Geza. ''The Nativity'', p. 143.</ref> The many similarities between the Gospel of Luke story of the birth of John and the Old Testament account of the birth of [[Samuel (Biblical figure)#Family|Samuel]] suggest that Luke's account of the annunciation and birth of Jesus are modeled on that of Samuel.<ref>Freed, Edwin D. (2001), ''The Stories of Jesus' Birth: a Critical Introduction'' Continuum International, pp. 87–90.</ref>

====Post-nativity====

Unique to the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist explicitly teaches charity, baptizes tax-collectors, and advises soldiers.

The text briefly mentions that John is imprisoned and later beheaded by Herod, but the Gospel of Luke lacks the story of a step-daughter dancing for Herod and requesting John's head.

The [[Book of Acts]] portrays some disciples of John becoming followers of Jesus,<ref>'l{{bibleref2|Acts|18:24–19:6|NRSV}}</ref> a development not reported by the gospels except for the early case of [[Saint Andrew|Andrew]], Simon Peter's brother.<ref>{{bibleref2|John|1:35–42|NRSV}}</ref>