Protoevangelium of James 23

1(1) But Herod asked for John and sent officers to Zechariah, saying to him, “Where are you hiding your son?” But he replied, saying to them, “I am a minister of God, and I sit in God’s Temple. How should I know where my son is?” (2) And his officers went away and reported all these things to Herod. And Herod was angry, and said, “His son is about to be king over Israel!” And he sent his officers again, to say to him, “Tell me the truth. Where is your son? You know that your life is in my hand.” And the officers went away and reported these things to him. (3) And Zechariah said, “I am a martyr of God if you shed my blood, because the Lord will receive my spirit, since you will be spilling innocent blood at the entrance of the Temple of the Lord.” And around daybreak, Zechariah was murdered, and the people of Israel did not know that he was murdered.