Gabriel

===New Testament===

Gabriel's first appearance in the [[New Testament]], concerns the annunciation of the birth of [[John the Baptist]]. John's father [[Zechariah (priest)|Zachariah]], a priest of the course of Abia, ({{bibleref|Luke|1:5-7|9}}) was childless because his wife [[Elizabeth (biblical figure)|Elisabeth]] was barren. An angel appears to Zacharias while he is ministering in the Temple, to announce the birth of his son. When Zachariah questions the angel, the angel gives his name as Gabriel:
[[File:ANGELICO, Fra Annunciation, 1437-46 (2236990916).jpg|thumb|Gabriel announcing the incarnation to Mary, [[Annunciation (Fra Angelico, San Marco)|by Fra Angelico]], c. 1440{{ndash}}1445 ([[Museo di San Marco|Convent of San Marco]])]]
{{Poem quote|text=10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,<!-- Ghost is correct KJV, do not change to spirit. --> even from his mother's womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.|char=|sign=|title=Luke 1:10–20<ref>{{bibleref|Luke|1:10-20|KJV}} KJV. (other versions: {{bibleref|Luke|1:1–25|!}})</ref>|source=}}

After completing his required week<ref>[https://archive.today/20120720085450/http://www.avbtab.org/rc/read/dedicate.htm THE Dedication (Jesus' birth)] "The priests serve 4 weeks per year: 1 week twice a year in courses, and the two week-long feasts, unleavened bread and tabernacles. Pentecost is a one-day observance, which would have come before Zacharias' (the 8th) course began, or at the latest, the 1st day of his course, which was from 12 thru 18 Sivan, or noon on the 19th, if Josephus is correct that courses changed at noon on the sabbaths." Josephus Antiquities b.7 ch.14 s.7 "eight days, from sabbath to sabbath". Josephus against Apion b.2 sect.8 "mid-day"</ref> of ministry, Zacharias returns to his home and his wife Elizabeth conceives. After she has completed five months of her pregnancy ({{bibleref|Luke|1:21-25|9}}), Gabriel appears again, now to Mary, to announce the birth of Jesus:
[[File:The Annunciation, Philadelphia Museum of Art, W1899-1-1-pma, by Henry Ossawa Tanner.jpg|thumb|''The Annunciation'', by [[Henry Ossawa Tanner]] (1898)]]
{{Poem quote|text=26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.|char=|sign=|title=Luke 1:26–38<ref>{{bibleref|Luke|1:26–38|KJV}} KJV. (other versions: {{bibleref|Luke|1:26–38|!}})</ref>|source=}}

Gabriel only appears by name in those two passages in Luke. In the first passage the angel identified himself as Gabriel, but in the second it is Luke who identified him as Gabriel. The only other named angels in the New Testament are Michael the Archangel (in {{bibleref|Jude|1:9|9}}) and [[Abaddon]] (in {{bibleref|Revelation|9:11|9}}). Believers are expressly warned not to worship angels in two New Testament passages: {{bibleref|Colossians|2:18-19|9}} and {{bibleref|Revelation|19:10|9}}.<ref>{{Citation |last=Easton |first=Matthew George |title=Angel |url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Easton%27s_Bible_Dictionary_(1897)/Angel |work=Easton's Bible Dictionary |access-date=2023-11-08}}</ref>