Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

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.