Luke 1:22 kjv

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 nkjv

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

Luke 1:22 niv

When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

Luke 1:22 esv

And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute.

Luke 1:22 nlt

When he finally did come out, he couldn't speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

Luke 1 verses

Luke 1 22 Meaning

Luke 1:22 describes the scene immediately following Zechariah's divine encounter in the Holy Place of the Temple. Upon his exit, Zechariah was unable to speak to the waiting multitude, his tongue bound by divine judgment for his unbelief. The people, observing his unusual silence and his gestures, correctly discerned that he had experienced a supernatural vision or revelation within the sacred confines of the Temple. His muteness served as an undeniable, public sign of God's powerful intervention and the certainty of His promised word.

Luke 1 22 Context

Luke 1:22 is a pivotal moment in the opening narrative of Luke's Gospel, specifically detailing the immediate aftermath of the angel Gabriel's annunciation to Zechariah. As a priest, Zechariah had entered the Holy Place of the Temple, chosen by lot to offer incense, a solemn duty performed while the large congregation prayed outside. This ritual traditionally concluded with the priest emerging to pronounce the Aaronic blessing upon the people. However, inside the sanctuary, Zechariah was visited by Gabriel, who announced the miraculous birth of John the Baptist to him and his barren, elderly wife, Elizabeth. Zechariah responded with doubt regarding the angel's promise (Lk 1:18), for which Gabriel declared he would be struck mute until the prophecy's fulfillment (Lk 1:19-20). The crowd outside grew expectant, waiting longer than usual for Zechariah's return and the anticipated blessing. When Zechariah finally emerged, his prolonged silence and strange, non-verbal communication clearly signaled to the waiting multitude that he had experienced an extraordinary divine encounter within the holy precincts, rendering him speechless and unable to perform his customary duty of blessing them.

Luke 1 22 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the prior event (Zechariah's delayed emergence from the Temple) with his subsequent actions and the crowd's reaction.
• when he came out (ἐξελθών - exelthōn): Literally "having gone out" or "having come forth." This perfect participle signifies Zechariah's physical departure from the Holy Place into the public area where the people were. The implied delay of his exit, contrary to the expected promptness for the priestly blessing, aroused the people's curiosity and concern.
• he could not speak (οὐκ ἐδύνατο λαλῆσαι - ouk edynato lalēsai): "Ouk" is "not," "edynato" means "was able" (imperfect tense of "dynamai" - to be able), and "lalēsai" is "to speak." This phrase denotes an imposed, ongoing inability to speak, not merely a refusal. It directly fulfills the angelic pronouncement in Lk 1:20 and serves as the immediate, observable consequence of his unbelief, confirming God's word through a tangible sign.
• to them (πρὸς αὐτούς - pros autous): Refers specifically to "the whole multitude of the people" (Lk 1:10) waiting outside, to whom Zechariah was supposed to deliver the customary priestly blessing. His muteness prevented him from performing this vital priestly function.
• and they perceived (καὶ συνῆκαν - kai synēkan): "Synēkan" (from "syniēmi") means "they understood," "they comprehended," or "they discerned." The people did not need a verbal explanation from Zechariah; his condition, coupled with his delay in the Temple, allowed them to intuitively grasp the supernatural nature of what had occurred. This highlights their spiritual perceptiveness and the unusualness of Zechariah's state.
• that he had seen a vision (ὅτι ὀπτασίαν ἑώρακεν - hoti optasian heōraken): "Hoti" means "that," "optasian" is "a vision, an apparition, or a direct revelation." "Heōraken" is "he has seen" (perfect tense of "horao"). This confirms the people's correct understanding that Zechariah's physical inability was the result of a divine, objective encounter within the sacred Temple, distinguishing it from a dream or subjective experience. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the event.
• in the temple (ἐν τῷ ναῷ - en tō naō): Refers to the inner sanctuary, the Holy Place (ναός - naos), where the incense altar stood, not the outer courts. This stresses the sacredness of the location of the vision, a place of God's manifest presence, giving added weight to the event's significance.
• for he beckoned unto them (διότι αὐτοῖς ἐνένευεν - dioti autois eneneuen): "Dioti" means "because" or "for this reason," explaining how the people understood. "Eneneuen" (imperfect of "eneneuo") means "he nodded" or "he made signs." Zechariah's use of non-verbal communication was the direct evidence that he could not speak, visibly demonstrating his altered state and reinforcing the divine intervention.
• and remained speechless (καὶ προσέμενεν κωφός - kai prosemenen kōphos): "Prosemenen" (imperfect of "prosménō") means "he continued" or "he remained," indicating the ongoing nature of his condition. "Kōphos" means "mute" or "speechless" (it can also mean "deaf," but in this context, the emphasis is on his inability to speak). This final clause reiterates and reinforces the lasting nature of Zechariah's muteness, confirming that his inability to speak was a sustained, divinely imposed condition, not a temporary shock or choice.

Luke 1 22 Bonus section

• The Power of Divine Silence: Zechariah's divinely imposed silence served a multi-faceted purpose. It acted as a temporary discipline for his unbelief, a potent sign to both him and the congregation confirming the supernatural nature of his experience, and possibly as a period of profound meditation and purification before he could articulate his faith (as seen in Lk 1:64 when his speech returns). This "imposed quiet" stands in contrast to the joyful proclamation he would eventually make.
• Significance of Temple Location: The vision occurring "in the temple" (specifically, the Holy Place) emphasizes its divine origin and legitimacy. This was the dwelling place of God's presence, lending ultimate authority and solemnity to the angelic revelation received by Zechariah. The sanctity of the location reinforces the gravity and truth of the message.
• Beyond Words: The inability to speak forced Zechariah into a form of communication beyond words, relying on gestures. This points to the idea that God can communicate and confirm His truth even when conventional means of speech are withheld or when human faith wavers, demonstrating that divine signs transcend human limitations.

Luke 1 22 Commentary

Luke 1:22 concisely portrays the pivotal moment where God's divine will manifests in a priest's sudden silence, serving as an unmistakable sign. Zechariah's muteness was not an arbitrary affliction but a precise, divinely orchestrated consequence for his fleeting doubt in the face of an extraordinary promise. Emerging from the sanctuary unable to speak, he deviated from the expected priestly blessing, causing the waiting multitude to discern a profound, supernatural occurrence within the holy confines. His frustrated gestures served as the eloquent testimony to his silence, solidifying their understanding that a vision had transpired. This physical state acted as a seal of divine authenticity, assuring both Zechariah and the people of the veracity and certainty of Gabriel's message regarding John the Baptist's imminent arrival, paving the way for the greater revelation of Jesus the Messiah. It emphasizes God's power to uphold His word, even through human incredulity.