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Gabriel and [[Archangel Michael|Michael]] are the archangels who figure most prominently in the [[Bible]], though it could be argued that Gabriel's role is the better developed. In the [[Old Testament]], he is only mentioned by name in two visions of the [[Prophet Daniel]] (see [[Book of Daniel|Daniel]] 8 and 9). Here he explains to Daniel the future of Israel. [[Holy Tradition]] also credits Gabriel with inspiring the [[Prophet]] [[Moses]] to write either [[Genesis]] or the entire [[Pentateuch]]. Later Jewish Rabbinical literature states that he was the [[angel]] who taught Joseph the 70 languages needed to rule in Egypt, but this is not in the Genesis account.
The reason why Gabriel is most celebrated, though, is his role in the [[Annunciation]] and other events in [[New Testament]] times attributed to him by Tradition (although his name may not be mentioned explicitly in the text). Starting in [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]] 1, Gabriel first appears to [[Zachariah]], the father of [[John the Forerunner|John the Baptist]]. Zachariah initially refuses to believe that his barren wife, [[Elizabeth]], and he will have a child in their old age. This is the moment in which Gabriel says, "I am Gabriel. I stand before God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this this good news" (Luke 1:19){{ref|1}}. He then strikes Zachariah mute until the birth of his son because of his disbelief.
Often Gabriel is also recognized as the angel who announced the birth of the Theotokos to her parents [[Joachim and Anna]] and who came to [[Joseph the Betrothed]] in a dream, telling him that Mary's pregnancy was indeed [[miracle|miraculous]] and that he should protect and care for her. He then appeared to the shepherds near Bethlehem, telling them of the [[Nativity]]. Thus he was the key figure in revealing to humanity the [[Incarnation]] of our Lord [[Jesus Christ]]. He will also announce the Second Coming of the Lord by blowing a trumpet.
