John Gill 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)

And when he came out, he could not speak to them
Or deliver the benediction they were waiting for:

and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple :
which he made them to understand, by the gestures he used:

for he beckoned to them; nodding his head, or by some motions of his hands the Ethiopic version adds, "with his hand": or of his lips;

for the signs of a dumb man are distinguished into (hzymr) , and (huypq) ^F17 ; the one is a sign which is expressed by the head and hands; and the other is a sign expressed by the lips: hence that rule, ^F18

``a dumb man beckons, and is beckoned to; and Ben Bethira says, he moves his lips, and lips are moved to him:''

and remained speechless; to the time the angel fixed.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F17: Bartenora in Misa. Gittin, c. 5. sect. 7.
• F18: Misn. ib.