Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 1:21

"And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple." — Luke 1:21 (ASV)

The element of suspense during the unusually long prayer-time contributes to the vividness of Luke’s narrative. The worshipers, who had been praying outside, now understood without anyone telling them that Zechariah had seen a vision.