Luke 1:22

22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless.

Luke 1:22 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 1:22

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them
Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for:

and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple:
which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used: for he beckoned unto them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his hands the Ethiopic version adds, "with his hand": or of his lips; for the signs of a dumb man are distinguished into (hzymr) , and (huypq) ^F17; the one is a sign which is expressed by the head and hands; and the other is a sign expressed by the lips: hence that rule, ^F18

``a dumb man beckons, and is beckoned to; and Ben Bethira says, he moves his lips, and lips are moved to him:''

and remained speechless; to the time the angel fixed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Bartenora in Misa. Gittin, c. 5. sect. 7.
F18 Misn. ib.

Luke 1:22 In-Context

20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season."

21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless.

23 And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24 And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,