ARIEL SABAR writes about his father Yona in Christianity Today:

When a Professor of Aramaic Meets Hollywood
You get asked some pretty strange things when you speak the language of Jesus.
Ariel Sabar | posted 9/29/2008 07:26AM

The calls come to my father's office at UCLA several times a year, often around Christmas or Easter.

"Professor Yona Sabar?" they ask, after identifying themselves as a priest or a minister or just a curious layperson.

"Yes?"

"May I ask, is it true you speak the language of our Lord?"

[...]

The article also tells about how he acted as consultant for the movie Oh God! and for The X Files.

Somewhat related thoughts here and here.