Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 1:22

"And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb." — Luke 1:22 (ASV)

A vision.—The word is used as distinguished from “dream,” to imply that what had been witnessed had been seen with the waking sense. The look of awe, the strange gestures, the unusual silence, all showed that he had come under the influence of some supernatural power.

He beckoned to them.—The tense implies continued and repeated action.