Luke 1:21

KJV

And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the people {G2992} waited {G2258}{G4328} for Zacharias {G2197}, and {G2532} marvelled {G2296} that {G1722} he {G846} tarried so long {G5549} in {G1722} the temple {G3485}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Z'kharyah; they were surprised at his taking so long in the Temple.

Berean Standard Bible

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

American Standard Version

And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 1:21 provides a snapshot of public anticipation and growing perplexity as the people outside the temple waited for the priest Zacharias to emerge from his sacred duties. His uncharacteristic delay, a direct consequence of his supernatural encounter with the angel Gabriel within the Holy Place, stirred wonder and concern among the onlookers, subtly signaling that a profound divine intervention was unfolding, setting the stage for the imminent arrival of God's promised Messiah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Zacharias's extraordinary and private encounter with the angel Gabriel inside the temple. In the preceding verses ([Luke 1:11-20](/luke/1-11-20 "Luke 1:11-20 - Gabriel's Annunciation to Zacharias")), Gabriel announced to Zacharias that his barren wife, Elisabeth, would bear a son, John, who would prepare the way for the Lord. Because Zacharias, despite his piety, expressed doubt regarding this miraculous promise, Gabriel declared that he would be struck mute until the day these things came to pass ([Luke 1:20](/luke/1-20 "Luke 1:20 - Zacharias Struck Mute")). Luke 1:21 thus captures the immediate public reaction to this private divine act, highlighting the tension between the hidden work of God and its visible, albeit initially perplexing, consequences. The people's marveling sets up the subsequent revelation of Zacharias's muteness, which serves as a powerful sign of God's word being fulfilled.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** As a priest of the course of Abijah ([Luke 1:5](/luke/1-5 "Luke 1:5 - Zacharias and Elisabeth")), Zacharias had been chosen by lot to perform the rare and highly esteemed duty of burning incense in the Holy Place of the Jerusalem Temple. This was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege for most priests. The ritual involved the priest entering the Holy Place alone, offering incense on the golden altar, while the congregation remained outside in the court, praying silently. Upon completion, the priest would emerge to pronounce the Aaronic blessing, typically a form of the blessing found in [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24-26 "Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing"), upon the waiting people. A prolonged delay was highly unusual and would naturally cause concern, as it might suggest a ritual impurity, a divine disfavor, or even a medical emergency within the sacred space, given the strict purity laws and the solemnity of the temple service.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 1:21 contributes to several major themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **Divine Intervention and Revelation**, as God actively breaks into human history, often through unexpected means, to fulfill His promises. The people's waiting and marveling highlight the **Contrast Between Public Expectation and Private Divine Experience**, showing how God's most significant work can unfold unseen before its public manifestation. Zacharias's delay and subsequent muteness serve as a **Sign and Confirmation** of God's word, a tangible consequence of doubt but also a powerful authentication of Gabriel's message. Furthermore, the verse subtly reinforces the **Sovereignty of God's Timing**, demonstrating that God operates on His own timetable, which often differs from human expectations, as seen in the long period of waiting for the Messiah before the events of [Luke 1](/luke/1 "Luke 1 - The Birth of John and Jesus Foretold").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **people (Greek, _laós'_):** This term refers to "a people in general," emphasizing the collective body of worshippers gathered outside the temple. Unlike _dēmos_ which might denote one's own populace, _laós_ here signifies the broader community of Israel, highlighting the public nature of the event and the widespread anticipation for the priestly blessing.
* **waited (Greek, _prosdokáō'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to watch" or "to anticipate," this verb conveys a sense of expectation, whether in hope or fear. The people were not merely standing by, but actively "looking for" or "awaiting" Zacharias's return, underscoring their customary expectation for the swift completion of the temple service and the pronouncement of the blessing.
* **marvelled (Greek, _thaumázō'_):** Meaning "to wonder" or "to be astonished," this word captures the people's reaction to Zacharias's unusual delay. It suggests a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and perhaps a growing sense of unease or even awe, as the situation deviated significantly from the norm, hinting at something extraordinary or inexplicable.
* **tarried so long (Greek, _chronízō'_):** This verb, stemming from _chronos_ (time), means "to take time," "to linger," or "to delay." It precisely describes the uncharacteristic duration of Zacharias's stay inside the temple, which was the direct cause of the people's wonder and concern, indicating an abnormal protraction of the sacred ritual.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the people waited for Zacharias":** This clause establishes the setting and the primary action of the crowd. The "people" (Greek _laós_) represent the assembled worshippers, patiently observing the customary ritual outside the Holy Place. Their "waiting" (Greek _prosdokáō_) signifies their expectation for Zacharias, the officiating priest, to emerge and perform his traditional duties, particularly the pronouncement of the priestly blessing.
* **"and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple":** This second clause introduces the unexpected turn of events and the people's reaction. The conjunction "and" links their waiting to their subsequent astonishment. The word "marvelled" (Greek _thaumázō_) indicates their profound surprise and wonder at Zacharias's unusual and extended delay ("tarried so long," Greek _chronízō_) within the sacred confines of the temple. This prolonged absence was highly irregular for a priest performing the incense offering, prompting their curiosity and concern.

#### Literary Devices
Luke employs several literary devices in this concise verse. **Suspense** is immediately created by the unexpected delay of Zacharias, leaving both the characters within the narrative and the reader wondering about the cause of his prolonged absence. This builds anticipation for the revelation that follows. There is also an element of **Contrast** between the public, visible expectation of the people and the private, hidden divine encounter that Zacharias experienced. The mundane act of "waiting" is juxtaposed with the extraordinary, supernatural event that caused the "tarrying." Furthermore, the verse functions as **Foreshadowing**, as Zacharias's unusual behavior and subsequent muteness are a tangible sign of the unprecedented divine activity that is about to unfold in salvation history, preparing the way for the Messiah. The people's "marveling" serves to highlight the significance of this deviation from the norm, drawing attention to the divine hand at work.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 1:21 serves as a powerful illustration of God's sovereign timing and His often-mysterious ways of working in the world. The people's patient waiting and subsequent bewilderment underscore the truth that God's plans frequently unfold outside of human expectations and schedules. What appears to be a delay or an anomaly from a human perspective is, in fact, a divinely orchestrated moment of preparation and revelation. This verse reminds us that God is actively at work even when His activity is hidden from immediate view, and that His purposes are always unfolding, often through signs and circumstances that initially perplex us but ultimately point to His greater redemptive plan. It calls for a posture of patient expectation and trust in God's perfect timing, even when circumstances seem to deviate from the norm.

* [Psalm 27:14](/psalms/27-14 "Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord")
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8-9 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways")
* [Habakkuk 2:3](/habakkuk/2-3 "Habakkuk 2:3 - The Vision Awaits Its Appointed Time")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 1:21 invites us to reflect on our own responses to periods of waiting, uncertainty, or unexpected delays in life. Just as the people waited for Zacharias, we often find ourselves waiting for God to act, for prayers to be answered, or for circumstances to change. This verse challenges us to consider that these moments of "tarrying" might not be periods of divine inactivity, but rather crucial times when God is working behind the scenes, preparing the way for something far greater than we can imagine. It encourages us to cultivate a spirit of patient expectation, trusting in God's perfect timing and sovereign plan, even when His methods or schedule seem unconventional. Our "marveling" should lead not to anxiety, but to a deeper sense of wonder at His unfolding purposes and a readiness to discern His signs, however unusual they may appear. We are called to remain attentive and prayerful, recognizing that God's most profound work often begins in quiet, hidden moments before its grand revelation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically react when God's timing seems to differ from my own expectations or desires?**
* **Can I identify a "tarrying" period in my life where God was likely working behind the scenes in ways I didn't initially understand?**
* **What does this verse teach me about the importance of patience and trust in God's sovereign plan, even when circumstances are perplexing?**

### FAQ
**Why was Zacharias delayed in the temple, and what was the significance of this delay?**

Answer: Zacharias was delayed because he had a miraculous encounter with the angel Gabriel inside the Holy Place of the temple. Gabriel announced that Zacharias's barren wife, Elisabeth, would bear a son, John, who would prepare the way for the Lord ([Luke 1:13-17](/luke/1-13-17 "Luke 1:13-17 - Gabriel's Prophecy to Zacharias")). Because Zacharias doubted this divine promise, Gabriel declared that he would be struck mute until the prophecy was fulfilled ([Luke 1:20](/luke/1-20 "Luke 1:20 - Zacharias's Muteness")). The significance of this delay was twofold: first, it was a direct consequence and a visible sign of God's judgment on Zacharias's unbelief; second, and more profoundly, it served as a public, albeit initially mysterious, signal that something extraordinary and divinely orchestrated had occurred within the sacred space, setting the stage for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through the birth of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for Jesus Christ. The delay heightened the people's anticipation and wonder, making the subsequent revelation of Zacharias's muteness even more impactful.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The scene of the people waiting for Zacharias, marveling at his prolonged absence, powerfully foreshadows the greater divine "delay" and the unexpected manner in which God's ultimate salvation would arrive through Jesus Christ. Just as Zacharias's muteness was a sign of God's word taking root and a preparation for John the Baptist, so John himself was merely "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord!’" ([John 1:23](/john/1-23 "John 1:23 - John the Baptist's Mission")). The long centuries of waiting for the Messiah, marked by prophetic silence and unfulfilled expectations, culminated not in a dramatic, visible display of a conquering king, but in the humble birth of Jesus, the Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), whose kingdom would often be hidden from the world's view, operating through quiet transformation rather than overt political power ([Luke 17:20-21](/luke/17-20-21 "Luke 17:20-21 - The Kingdom of God Within You")). Zacharias's temporary muteness and the people's wonder point to the profound truth that God's most significant work often unfolds in ways that challenge human understanding and expectation, ultimately leading to the full revelation of His glory in Christ, who is the true "temple" where God dwells among His people ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus and the Temple")). The "tarrying" in Luke 1:21 thus becomes a microcosm of God's patient, sovereign, and often surprising redemptive plan, fully realized in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 6:23

Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

Numbers 6:27

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.