A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 1:63

"And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all." — Luke 1:63 (ASV)

Tablet (πινακιδιον). Diminutive of πινακις. In Aristotle and the papyri for writing tablet, probably covered with wax. Sometimes it was a little table, like Shakespeare's "the table of my memory" (Hamlet, i.5). It was used also of a physician's note-book.

Wrote, saying (εγραψεν λεγων). Hebrew way of speaking (2 Kings 10:6).