Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 1:11

"And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense." — Luke 1:11 (ASV)

The suddenness of the appearance of the angel in the Holy Place accords with other supernatural events in Luke (cf. 2:9, 13). Only a heavenly being had the right to appear in that place with the priest. Zechariah’s startled and fearful reaction is not only a natural reaction to such an appearance but is also consistent with what the Gospels say about the response of the disciples and others to the presence of the supernatural (e.g., 1:38; 5:8–10).