Luke 1:20, commentary and pictures

Gabriel spoke these words to Zacharias in answer to his doubt of the promise of John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord, when the aged priest asked how he could know it would happen. They mean he would be dumb and unable to speak until the foretold things were performed, because he did not believe words that would be fulfilled in their appointed season. They were spoken as he stood before the golden altar in the holy place while the incense with the prayers of Israel ascended, after long years of praying for the Redeemer whose coming was now announced as too great a mercy for him to credit. The dumbness was a temporary punishment, consequence and rebuke for doubting God's power, and a sign confirming the truth of the divine message. It kept him from the priest's duty to pray for the people and pronounce the benediction, so he could only beckon and use signs when he tried to speak. His speech was restored when the prediction was fulfilled at the appointed time at John's birth, and he praised God, though those who held the quicker account teach it was loosed within a day, in less than twenty-four hours, ending the next morning with praise.

Setting and Meaning of Silence

Zacharias stood before the golden altar in the holy place of the sanctuary as the cloud of incense with the prayers of Israel ascended before God. The angel stood on the right side of the altar as an indication of favor, which Zacharias did not notice. He had prayed for many years for the coming of the Redeemer, and heaven had now sent its messenger to announce that those prayers were about to be answered, but the mercy of God was too great for him to credit. He was filled with fear and self-condemnation.

Gabriel spoke in reply to his doubt about the promise of John the Baptist, who was born and appointed to prepare the way of the Lord. When Zacharias asked whereby he could know this because he was an old man and his wife well stricken in years, Gabriel declared that he stands in the presence of God and was sent to speak and show glad tidings. What seemed impossible because of their age would happen. The meaning is that Zacharias would be dumb and not able to speak until the foretold things were performed, because he did not believe words that would be fulfilled in their appointed season.

The dumbness was temporary and came as soon as the angel departed. He could not speak even when he tried to pray, and was kept from the priest's duty in that service to pray for the people for pardon of public and national sins and for the coming of the Messiah. When he came out to the waiting congregation he could not speak or pronounce the usual benediction to bless the people. He could only spread out his hands and look up to heaven, beckon, and use signs to explain that an angel had appeared and that unbelief had taken his speech.

The people had waited long and feared he had been cut down by the judgment of God. His face shining with the glory of God made them perceive he had seen a vision in the temple. He made known to them what he had seen and heard, then remained until the days of his ministration were accomplished and departed to his own house.

Sign, Rebuke and Restoration

The dumbness was laid upon Zacharias as a sign to confirm the divine message, and by that sign he was brought to realize its truth. He was struck dumb as soon as the angel departed, and he could not speak even when he tried to pray, but only made signs to the people that an angel had appeared and that his speech was taken because of his unbelief. That inability to speak was a temporary punishment and consequence for not believing God's words, and a rebuke for doubting God's power. It was to last until those words were fulfilled in their season, with speech to return when the foretold events came to pass at the appointed time.

Those who held the briefer telling say the tongue was loosed within a day, in less than twenty-four hours, ending the next morning with praise to God. In the fuller telling speech was restored when the prediction was fulfilled, when John was born, and Zacharias praised God. His speech would return when the angel's message about the birth of his son came to pass. That temple revelation and its restored sign was remembered when John later appeared as a prophet, recalling his child as the Messiah's herald.