Speechless

What if God sent you a message so powerful… you couldn’t speak?

In Speechless With Fear, Zechariah steps onto the stage and into the pages of Luke’s Gospel, reliving the day his prayers were answered—and his voice was taken. At the height of his service in the temple, he receives an unimaginable visit from the angel Gabriel. The news? His wife Elizabeth will bear a son.

This heartfelt and intense solo performance gives audiences a glimpse into Zechariah’s internal struggle—his pride, his pain, his hope—and the fear that overwhelmed him when he realized this was no ordinary child. This was a child set apart for the Lord.

Cast: 1 (monolog, male)
Bible Reference: Luke 1:5-25
Set: Bare
Sound: wireless mic
Song: none
Lighting: as available
SFX: none
Props:
Costumes: likely traditional
Special Instructions:
Time: 6

Speechless With Fear – Sample Script

Monologue by Zechariah
Copyright DramaShare 2001

(Zechariah enters from upstage center. Lights gradually rise to reveal him already standing center stage.)

ZECHARIAH
Yes, I was!
I was gripped by fear!

I, Zechariah, at the pinnacle of my career as a temple elder, had just received the most prestigious—once-in-a-lifetime—honor: the right to serve in the temple.
Most men went through their whole lives never being granted this offer.

Oh yes, truly Jehovah had blessed me. The highest temple honor!

You should have heard the jealous tongues wagging in the village!
Especially the widow Miriam—she was the most outspoken of all.
Her son, Levi, was the one most people expected to receive this honor.

"What credentials does Zechariah have?" she shouted to all who would listen. "Such an honor wasted on the husband of a barren woman!"

Such jealousy!

Yes, it was true. My wife, Elizabeth, was unable to have children.
But we constantly prayed that God might bless us with a child.

It was hard—being the husband of a childless wife.
Men talked behind my back. Made jokes.
And since a large number of children—a full quiver—is equated with all things desirable in Jewish men, it was not unusual for prospective customers to avoid a merchant based on his childless state.

As a businessman, I knew this all too well.

My most vigorous competitor, Levi—
He would say, "You probably wouldn’t want to entrust your business matters to Zechariah.”
And again he would say, "Zechariah isn’t even able to produce a daughter, let alone a son."

Elizabeth prayed constantly for God’s blessing.
As did I.

In fact…
I was in prayer—
when the angel appeared to me.

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