The words occur in the most peculiar and distinctive portion of the Gospel; and the correspondence is so exact and the phrase itself so striking as not to admit of any other source.

The order, the choice of words, the construction, even to the use of the nominative [Greek: amemptos] where we might very well have had the adverb [Greek: amemptos], all point the same way.

These fine edges of the quotation, so to speak, must needs have been rubbed off in the course of transmission through several documents.

But there is not a trace of any other document that contained such a remark upon the character of Zacharias.
This instance of a Synoptic quotation may, I think, safely be depended upon.
Another allusion, a little lower down in the Epistle, which speaks of the same Vettius Epagathus as 'having in himself the Paraclete [there is a play on the use of the word [Greek: paraklaetos] just before], the Spirit, more abundantly than Zacharias,' though in exaggerated and bad taste, probably has reference to Luke i.

67, 'And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Ghost,' &c.
[Footnote: Mr.Mason calls my attention to [Greek: enduma numphikon] in Sec.