Luke 1:21 Commentary and Bible Study

The whole multitude had been waiting outside the temple for Zacharias to emerge and praying. When he came out he was supposed to bless the people with words appointed through Moses (Number 6:23-27). Because he had taken so long to finish burning the incense, they knew that something unusual had happened. The events recorded in previous verses would not have taken long, but perhaps Zacharias was so disturbed by the vision that he remained in the temple for some time, and when he came out, he could not speak to them, though he tried. He could not explain what had happened and the whole prophecy was going to be wrapped up in secrecy until the child was born. The people could see from his excited state and his unsuccessful attempts to explain what had happened that he had seen a vision; he had just emerged from the temple, the place where God had chosen to locate his presence. He completed his tour of duty and then returned to his home in the hill country in a city of Judah.