Luke 1:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Considering his own age, and moreover the barrenness of his wife, Zacharias doubted; as it is said, And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? as if he said, “How shall this be?” And he adds the reason of his doubting; For I am an old man. An unseasonable time of life, an ill-suited nature; the planter infirm, the soil barren. But it is thought by some a thing unpardonable. in the priest, that he raises a course of objections; for whenever God declares any thing, it becomes us to receive it in faith, and moreover, disputes of this kind are the mark of a rebellious spirit. Hence it follows; And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, who stand before God.

Because the word in the Greek (κωφὸς) may also signify deaf, he well says, Because thou believest not, thou shalt be deaf, and shalt not be able to speak. For most reasonably he suffered these two things; as disobedient, he incurs the penalty of deafness; as an objector, of silence.

After receiving the joyous announcement from the angel, Zechariah was meant to emerge from the sanctuary as the angel's herald. However, due to his disbelief, he refrained from conveying the message verbally and instead faced the consequence of having to express it through his silence. The occurrence of this vision within the sanctuary provided clear evidence to the people that he was deserving of such a revelation; their observation of his enforced silence led them to understand that his speech needed to be restrained. Afflicted in his speech, his condition served as a means for his mind to be purified, enabling him to learn the importance of restraining his tongue. Having failed to safeguard his words, he was rendered mute.

But a nod is a certain action of the body, without speech endeavouring to declare the will, yet not expressing it.

He was left unable to speak or hear. His voice was silenced and his hearing was lost due to his cries of disbelief. The old priest's silence symbolized the quietness of the Old Testament priesthood and its service.

Now while these things were going on within, the delay excited surprise among the multitudes who were waiting without, as it follows: And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried. And while various suspicions were going about, each man repeating them as it pleased him, Zacharias coming forth told by his silence what he secretly endured. Hence it follows, And when he came out, he could not speak.

For when angels come to us, they so outwardly fulfil their ministry, as at the same time inwardly to be never absent from His sight; since, though the angelic spirit is circumscribed, the highest Spirit, which is God, is not circumscribed. The angels therefore even when sent are before Him, because on whatever mission they go, they pass within Him.

As if he says, “If it were man who promised these miracles, one might with impunity demand a sign, but when an angel promises, it is then not right to doubt. It follows; And I am sent to speak to thee.

He was unable to communicate with them, meaning he could neither bless them nor explain why there had been such a prolonged delay in the church; the congregation speculated that he had experienced a divine vision within its walls since there seemed to be no other explanation for his behavior. This aligns with the Gospel narratives detailing the events of Jesus Christ's earthly existence, including the Annunciation of John the Baptist.

Zechariah found himself enveloped in despair upon hearing the Archangel’s message, leading him to question whether God would ever bestow upon him a child. However, the miraculous births of figures like Abraham and Sarah serve as historical precedents for conceiving in advanced years. Thus, the celestial messenger, addressing Zechariah's skepticism, first identifies his name and role—information a priest well-versed in the Scriptures would recognize (see Daniel 8:16, Daniel 9:21)—thereby indicating that he ought not to doubt the truth of the good news. Subsequently, the angel provides a sign to affirm the veracity of this gospel, which also serves as a consequence for his lack of faith.

When he finally emerged and began to communicate with the people through gestures, they understood that something remarkable had occurred to him in the Holy Place. It is likely that Zechariah, while using signs to convey to the crowd the reason for his prolonged absence in the Sanctuary, made it evident to those who were awaiting his return that an angel had visited him.

Overwhelmed by the events that transpired, the aged priest stood in silent astonishment, so engrossed in reflection that he lost track of the congregation awaiting him outside the sanctuary. His delay raised suspicion among the worshippers, many expressing surprise, while others likely feared for the well-being of the venerable cleric. Eventually, the long-awaited elder emerged from the sanctuary and positioned himself on the steps leading from the narthex to the court of the priests, who stood in orderly formations eager for him to impart the ritual blessing upon the people—a blessing that typically preceded the day’s sacrifices and was accompanied by the singing of psalms. As Zechariah took his place, he intended to declare the blessing.

Recognizing that he had experienced a vision, the initial astonishment over Zechariah's delayed return from the temple turned into speculation about his divine encounter when he was unable to communicate with the crowd. Through the gestures Zechariah used to convey his message, he likely indicated to the people the validity of his assumption regarding the vision he had received.

The message from the angel was both strange and wondrous to Zacharias, to such a degree that fear quickly faded into doubt and disbelief within him. He questioned, "How can this be? I am old, and so is my wife, who has also aged," addressing the remarkable visitor. The angel's response first affirmed the truth of the joyful announcement, followed by a rebuke for his lack of faith, which was inappropriate for a priest in a holy place before a divine emissary. "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to communicate these things to you." This majestic declaration was both clear and compelling for Zacharias, who should have recognized, from the Holy Scriptures (Dan. 8:16; 9:21), that Gabriel is the closest angel to God, tasked with revealing His will to humanity.