Luke 1:21

Were waiting (hn prosdokwn). Periphrastic imperfect again. An old Greek verb for expecting. Appears in papyri and inscriptions. It denotes mental direction whether hope or fear. They marvelled (eqaumazon). Imperfect tense, were wondering. The Talmud says that the priest remained only a brief time in the sanctuary. While he tarried (en twi cronizein). See verse Revelation 8 for the same idiom.