Luke 1:18-20 shows that Zacharias doubts the angel’s announcement that he and his wife would have a son in their old age. Zacharias asks for a sign so he can know for certain that the message is true. In response to his lack of faith, Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, rebukes the priest and declares that because of his unbelief, he will be unable to speak until the prophecy is fulfilled. This temporary muteness serves as both a fitting judgment against Zacharias and a confirmation that God's word will come to pass in its appointed time.
There are no apparent parallel Gospel accounts of Luke 1:18-20.
Luke 1:18-20 describes Zacharias’s questionable response to Gabriel’s amazing message and Gabriel’s counter—response as he rebukes Zacharias.
An angel of the Lord had just appeared to Zacharias the priest while he was burning incense in the temple (Luke 1:8-11) and told him amazing and wonderful news. The angel told Zacharias that his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son who was to be called John (Luke 1:13). John would be great and dedicated to the Lord, full of the Spirit, and a prophet (Luke 1:15-16). Indeed, John would be the prophet who would be the foretold Messianic forerunner who prepared the people to receive the Messiah when He came (Luke 1:17).
The angel’s message was happy news for Zacharias and the goodnews (v 19) Israel had been longing to hear for centuries.
Luke continues his narrative of this angelic encounter by telling us Zacharias’s response:
Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years” (v 18).
Zacharias’s response is incredulous and full of doubt.
Despite being a priest who knew well the stories of God granting children to the old and/or barren, such as Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:11-14), and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5-20), he struggles to believe the angel’s message.
Zacharias seems to ask the angel for a sign: How will I know this for certain?
This is a remarkable thing for Zacharias to ask, considering who is telling him these things inside the temple of the Lord. It is not a human messenger, but an angel who is telling him this wonderful news. The fact that God sent an angel to tell Zacharias the news of John’s birth and identity when he was chosen to burn incense in the temple IS the sign he was asking for.
From context we can presume that the angelic messenger was how Zacharias was supposed to know that the wonderful news was for certain. Zacharias’s doubt seems to make him oblivious to this obvious and significant fact.
His request for a sign reveals skepticism rather than faith. It contrasts Mary’s response to the angel’s message that she (a virgin) will bear a Son. Mary asks:
“How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34)
Unlike Zacharias, Mary appears to ask for understanding rather than proof.
The substance of Zacharias’s doubt seems to be centered on the fact that he and Elizabeth are well beyond normal childbearing age. For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.
According to rabbinic tradition, to be advanced in years meant someone was over sixty years old. This would suggest Zachariasand his wife Elizabeth were both older than sixty—years—old when the angel appeared to Zacharias with this message.
Zacharias’s words imply that he considers their old age an insurmountable obstacle, failing to trust in God's ability to fulfill His promise. For Zacharias, the old age of himself and his wife made the angel’s message impossible. We can presume that Zacharias, as a righteous priest, would have known the story of Abraham and Sarah having a child in their old age.
However, Zacharias was still doubtful. Perhaps Zacharias was thinking of Abraham asking God “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?” when God promised the Land of Israel to his descendants (Genesis 15:8). However, Abraham asked “how may I know” after he believed God’s promise (Genesis 15:6). God answered Abraham’s request by making a blood covenant between God the Father and God the Son, who would be Abraham’s descendant (see commentary on Genesis 15:17-21). In the case of Zacharias, it appears that he was struggling to believe God at all.
This unbelief was the wrong response, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). And Zacharias will soon be judged for his skepticism and lack of faith. (More on this in a moment.)
Given how Israel would largely doubt the message of Zacharias’s son, (John—the Messianic forerunner), it is ironic that Zacharias initially doubted the angel’s message that God was about to answer his prayers for the nation and his childless family by giving his wife a son.
Then, the angel answered and said to him (v 19a).
After Zacharias asked for proof and skeptically responded to the angel’s message, the angel responded to Zacharias’s response with a rebuke and a judgment. The rebuke and judgment also appear to be two signs that were to give Zacharias the certainty he requested.
The angel’s rebuke was:
“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news…” (v 19b).
The angel reminded Zacharias who it was speaking these wonderful tidings to him—an angel, who stands in the presence of God. The angelic messenger was the sign of certainty that Zacharias foolishly requested.
This first of two signs was more than sufficient for Zacharias toknow that what he was told was certain. This more—than—sufficient proof was given to Zacharias before he requested it—which explains why Gabriel rebuked him.
The angel began his rebuke by identifying himself as Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.
The name Gabriel in Hebrew means “God is my strength” or “Mighty one of God.” Gabriel’s name signifies God’s power and strength working through His messenger. This aligns with his role in Scripture as a heavenly messenger who delivers profound revelations.
Gabriel is one of two heavenly angels mentioned by name in the Bible (the archangel, Michael is the other—Daniel 10:13, 12:1, Jude 1:9,Revelation 12:7-9).
In addition to delivering this news of the Messianic forerunner to Zacharias, Gabriel later delivered the news of the Messiah’s birth to Jesus’s mother, Mary (Luke 1:11-20). Gabriel also interpreted Daniel’s vision of the Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8:16) and explained the prophecy of the seventy weeks (Daniel 9:21-22).
The fact that Gabriel is an angelwho stands in the presence of God may indicate and/or emphasize his high—ranking status as a heavenly messenger who is directly commissioned by God. There is a divine authority behind Gabriel’s message to Zacharias. The angel’s words are not his own. They directly come from God. Therefore, they are absolutely certain irrespective of all other circumstances.
This point is reinforced as Gabriel continued his rebuke of Zacharias: and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
It appears that God Himself personally sent Gabriel to tell Zacharias this good news.
Again, Gabriel’s rebuke drove home the point that this miraculous good news was to be believed because it came straight from God by one of His most powerful messengers.
The gist of Gabriel’s rebuke of Zacharias’s doubt could be understood this way: “You doubt what I just told you? Do you not realize who I am? I am God’s mighty messenger who was sent to you. Do you not know who sent me? God Himself. Of course you can believe what I say!”
Gabriel had informed Zacharias that his angelic presence and Who he spoke for was the first sign of certainty. And even though it was abundantly more than sufficient, Zacharias missed it, and he foolishly requested another sign.
Before moving to the second sign and judgment of Zacharias, it is worth pointing out that the Greek term translated here as bring you good news shares the same root and core meaning of the term that is often translated as “Gospel.”
Gospel means good news. And Gabriel’s message was good news for Zacharias and Elizabeth, and for Israel, and for the world. Indeed, Gabriel’s message was as Luke said in his introduction—“the beginning” (Luke 1:3) of the good news of Jesus Christ.
After rebuking Zacharias for his doubt, Gabriel judged the priest and gave him the other sign he requested. This judgement was the second sign.
“And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time” (v 20).
Gabriel introduced his judgment with the expression: And behold. This is akin to “pay close attention.” Given the context, it was likely said with considerable force or sarcasm.
This expression—And behold—seems to be an ironic response to Zacharias’s question for a sign when he asked Gabriel: “How will I know this for certain?” For Gabriel may have been saying “Since you wanted a sign to know what I tell you is true, I will give you one. Behold, pay close attention so you don’t miss it this time. Here is your sign…”
The sign and judgment were the same: you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.
Gabriel muted Zacharias’s tongue so that he would be unable to speak until the day the angel’s words were fulfilled. Gabriel specified that the reason Zacharias was silent from that moment until his words came to pass was because “you did not believe my words.”
Gabriel muting Zacharias for his lack of faith was a fitting consequence for two reasons.
First, the sign which Zacharias asked for was granted. The judgment and sign he received was a mild form of God’s wrath for his unrighteous doubt. God’s wrath typically consists in giving people over to what they demand against His will (Romans 1:18, 1:24a, 1:26a). This appears to be the case here, because Zacharias denied what was clearly revealed to him from God when he asked for a sign.
Zacharias would be reminded every day that he could know for certain that the angel’s wonderful words would come to be, because he would be silent and unable to speak until they were fulfilled.
The second reason this judgment was fitting was that because Zacharias did not believe the words of Gabriel (God’s mighty messenger), Zacharias (God’s humble priest) would be unable to speak his own words until the fulfillment.
Again, as a priest, Zacharias should have recognized that God had performed similar miracles before, such as granting a child to the hundred—year—old Abraham and ninety—year—old Sarah (Genesis 18:10-14). Zacharias’s silence served as both a discipline for his unbelief and a sign of certainty that God’s promise would come to pass despite his doubt.
Zacharias’s temporary muteness had an impact on his perspective from doubting the angel’s words to believing them. And it seems that Zacharias’s faith and obedience played a part in the restoration of his voice, for his voice was restored when Zacharias wrote that his son’s name is John, in obedience to Gabriel’s instructions (and against the expectations of others). It was after this obedience to the good news he heard from Gabriel that his mouth was opened (Luke 1:63-64). Zacharias’s mouth was opened when all the angel’s words were fulfilled in their proper time.
Assuming Zacharias and Elizabeth conceived John shortly after he returned home from his priestly service (Luke 1:23-24), Zacharias would have been mute for nine to ten months. If John’s conception occurred later, then Zacharias’s muteness would have been longer.
Luke 1:18-20
18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”
19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 “And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”
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Luke 1:18-20 meaning
There are no apparent parallel Gospel accounts of Luke 1:18-20.
Luke 1:18-20 describes Zacharias’s questionable response to Gabriel’s amazing message and Gabriel’s counter—response as he rebukes Zacharias.
An angel of the Lord had just appeared to Zacharias the priest while he was burning incense in the temple (Luke 1:8-11) and told him amazing and wonderful news. The angel told Zacharias that his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son who was to be called John (Luke 1:13). John would be great and dedicated to the Lord, full of the Spirit, and a prophet (Luke 1:15-16). Indeed, John would be the prophet who would be the foretold Messianic forerunner who prepared the people to receive the Messiah when He came (Luke 1:17).
The angel’s message was happy news for Zacharias and the good news (v 19) Israel had been longing to hear for centuries.
Luke continues his narrative of this angelic encounter by telling us Zacharias’s response:
Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years” (v 18).
Zacharias’s response is incredulous and full of doubt.
Despite being a priest who knew well the stories of God granting children to the old and/or barren, such as Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:11-14), and Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5-20), he struggles to believe the angel’s message.
Zacharias seems to ask the angel for a sign: How will I know this for certain?
This is a remarkable thing for Zacharias to ask, considering who is telling him these things inside the temple of the Lord. It is not a human messenger, but an angel who is telling him this wonderful news. The fact that God sent an angel to tell Zacharias the news of John’s birth and identity when he was chosen to burn incense in the temple IS the sign he was asking for.
From context we can presume that the angelic messenger was how Zacharias was supposed to know that the wonderful news was for certain. Zacharias’s doubt seems to make him oblivious to this obvious and significant fact.
His request for a sign reveals skepticism rather than faith. It contrasts Mary’s response to the angel’s message that she (a virgin) will bear a Son. Mary asks:
“How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
(Luke 1:34)
Unlike Zacharias, Mary appears to ask for understanding rather than proof.
The substance of Zacharias’s doubt seems to be centered on the fact that he and Elizabeth are well beyond normal childbearing age. For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.
According to rabbinic tradition, to be advanced in years meant someone was over sixty years old. This would suggest Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were both older than sixty—years—old when the angel appeared to Zacharias with this message.
Zacharias’s words imply that he considers their old age an insurmountable obstacle, failing to trust in God's ability to fulfill His promise. For Zacharias, the old age of himself and his wife made the angel’s message impossible. We can presume that Zacharias, as a righteous priest, would have known the story of Abraham and Sarah having a child in their old age.
However, Zacharias was still doubtful. Perhaps Zacharias was thinking of Abraham asking God “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?” when God promised the Land of Israel to his descendants (Genesis 15:8). However, Abraham asked “how may I know” after he believed God’s promise (Genesis 15:6). God answered Abraham’s request by making a blood covenant between God the Father and God the Son, who would be Abraham’s descendant (see commentary on Genesis 15:17-21). In the case of Zacharias, it appears that he was struggling to believe God at all.
This unbelief was the wrong response, “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). And Zacharias will soon be judged for his skepticism and lack of faith. (More on this in a moment.)
Given how Israel would largely doubt the message of Zacharias’s son, (John—the Messianic forerunner), it is ironic that Zacharias initially doubted the angel’s message that God was about to answer his prayers for the nation and his childless family by giving his wife a son.
Then, the angel answered and said to him (v 19a).
After Zacharias asked for proof and skeptically responded to the angel’s message, the angel responded to Zacharias’s response with a rebuke and a judgment. The rebuke and judgment also appear to be two signs that were to give Zacharias the certainty he requested.
The angel’s rebuke was:
“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news…” (v 19b).
The angel reminded Zacharias who it was speaking these wonderful tidings to him—an angel, who stands in the presence of God. The angelic messenger was the sign of certainty that Zacharias foolishly requested.
This first of two signs was more than sufficient for Zacharias to know that what he was told was certain. This more—than—sufficient proof was given to Zacharias before he requested it—which explains why Gabriel rebuked him.
The angel began his rebuke by identifying himself as Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.
The name Gabriel in Hebrew means “God is my strength” or “Mighty one of God.” Gabriel’s name signifies God’s power and strength working through His messenger. This aligns with his role in Scripture as a heavenly messenger who delivers profound revelations.
Gabriel is one of two heavenly angels mentioned by name in the Bible (the archangel, Michael is the other—Daniel 10:13, 12:1, Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7-9).
In addition to delivering this news of the Messianic forerunner to Zacharias, Gabriel later delivered the news of the Messiah’s birth to Jesus’s mother, Mary (Luke 1:11-20). Gabriel also interpreted Daniel’s vision of the Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8:16) and explained the prophecy of the seventy weeks (Daniel 9:21-22).
The fact that Gabriel is an angel who stands in the presence of God may indicate and/or emphasize his high—ranking status as a heavenly messenger who is directly commissioned by God. There is a divine authority behind Gabriel’s message to Zacharias. The angel’s words are not his own. They directly come from God. Therefore, they are absolutely certain irrespective of all other circumstances.
This point is reinforced as Gabriel continued his rebuke of Zacharias: and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
It appears that God Himself personally sent Gabriel to tell Zacharias this good news.
Again, Gabriel’s rebuke drove home the point that this miraculous good news was to be believed because it came straight from God by one of His most powerful messengers.
The gist of Gabriel’s rebuke of Zacharias’s doubt could be understood this way: “You doubt what I just told you? Do you not realize who I am? I am God’s mighty messenger who was sent to you. Do you not know who sent me? God Himself. Of course you can believe what I say!”
Gabriel had informed Zacharias that his angelic presence and Who he spoke for was the first sign of certainty. And even though it was abundantly more than sufficient, Zacharias missed it, and he foolishly requested another sign.
Before moving to the second sign and judgment of Zacharias, it is worth pointing out that the Greek term translated here as bring you good news shares the same root and core meaning of the term that is often translated as “Gospel.”
Gospel means good news. And Gabriel’s message was good news for Zacharias and Elizabeth, and for Israel, and for the world. Indeed, Gabriel’s message was as Luke said in his introduction—“the beginning” (Luke 1:3) of the good news of Jesus Christ.
After rebuking Zacharias for his doubt, Gabriel judged the priest and gave him the other sign he requested. This judgement was the second sign.
“And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time” (v 20).
Gabriel introduced his judgment with the expression: And behold. This is akin to “pay close attention.” Given the context, it was likely said with considerable force or sarcasm.
This expression—And behold—seems to be an ironic response to Zacharias’s question for a sign when he asked Gabriel: “How will I know this for certain?” For Gabriel may have been saying “Since you wanted a sign to know what I tell you is true, I will give you one. Behold, pay close attention so you don’t miss it this time. Here is your sign…”
The sign and judgment were the same: you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.
Gabriel muted Zacharias’s tongue so that he would be unable to speak until the day the angel’s words were fulfilled. Gabriel specified that the reason Zacharias was silent from that moment until his words came to pass was because “you did not believe my words.”
Gabriel muting Zacharias for his lack of faith was a fitting consequence for two reasons.
First, the sign which Zacharias asked for was granted. The judgment and sign he received was a mild form of God’s wrath for his unrighteous doubt. God’s wrath typically consists in giving people over to what they demand against His will (Romans 1:18, 1:24a, 1:26a). This appears to be the case here, because Zacharias denied what was clearly revealed to him from God when he asked for a sign.
Zacharias would be reminded every day that he could know for certain that the angel’s wonderful words would come to be, because he would be silent and unable to speak until they were fulfilled.
The second reason this judgment was fitting was that because Zacharias did not believe the words of Gabriel (God’s mighty messenger), Zacharias (God’s humble priest) would be unable to speak his own words until the fulfillment.
Again, as a priest, Zacharias should have recognized that God had performed similar miracles before, such as granting a child to the hundred—year—old Abraham and ninety—year—old Sarah (Genesis 18:10-14). Zacharias’s silence served as both a discipline for his unbelief and a sign of certainty that God’s promise would come to pass despite his doubt.
Zacharias’s temporary muteness had an impact on his perspective from doubting the angel’s words to believing them. And it seems that Zacharias’s faith and obedience played a part in the restoration of his voice, for his voice was restored when Zacharias wrote that his son’s name is John, in obedience to Gabriel’s instructions (and against the expectations of others). It was after this obedience to the good news he heard from Gabriel that his mouth was opened (Luke 1:63-64). Zacharias’s mouth was opened when all the angel’s words were fulfilled in their proper time.
Assuming Zacharias and Elizabeth conceived John shortly after he returned home from his priestly service (Luke 1:23-24), Zacharias would have been mute for nine to ten months. If John’s conception occurred later, then Zacharias’s muteness would have been longer.