Luke 1 · Verse 22

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: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

Luke 1:22, King James Version

Luke 1:22 in other translations

BSB	When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.
WEB	When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
ASV	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.
YLT	and having come out, he was not able to speak to them, and they perceived that a vision he had seen in the sanctuary, and he was beckoning to them, and did remain dumb.
DARBY	But when he came out he could not speak to them, and they recognised that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, and continued dumb.
BBE	And when he came out he was not able to say anything, and they saw that he had seen a vision in the Temple; and he was making signs to them without words.
Webster	And when he came out, he could not speak to them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned to them, and remained speechless.

What does Luke 1:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

22. speechless--dumb, and deaf also (see Lu 1:62).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 22. Had seen a vision. The word vision means sight, appearance, or spectre, and is commonly applied to spirits, or to beings from another world. When he came out of the temple, it is probable that they suspected that something of this nature had detained him there, and that, on inquiry of him, he signified by a nod that this was the case. He was unable to speak, and they had no way of "perceiving" it but by such a sign. On the word vision, Isa 1:1.

For he beckoned unto them. That is, by beckoning unto them, or by a sign, he informed them of what he had seen.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 22 They perceived that he had seen a vision - As the sanctuary was separated from the court by a great veil, the people could not see what passed, but they understood this from Zacharias himself, who, ην διανευων, made signs, or nodded unto them to that purpose. Signs are the only means by which a dumb man can convey his ideas to others.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 1:5-25

The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are…

Read the full comment on Luke 1:5-25 →

Luke 1:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐξελθὼνexelthōnHaving come outG1831

δὲdethenG1161

οὐκouknotG3756

ἐδύνατοedunatohe was ableG1410

λαλῆσαιlalēsaito speakG2980

αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐπέγνωσανepegnōsanthey recognizedG1921

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ὀπτασίανoptasiana visionG3701

ἑώρακενhe'ōrakenhe has seenG3708

ἐνeninG1722

τῷtōtheG3588

ναῷ.naōtemple.G3485

καὶkaiAndG2532

αὐτὸςautoshe himselfG846

ἦνēnwasG1510

διανεύωνdianeuōnmaking signsG1269

αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846

καὶkaiandG2532

διέμενενdiemenenwas remainingG1265

κωφός.¶kōphosmute.G2974

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 1:22

John 13:24
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Acts 12:17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Luke 1:62
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Acts 21:40
And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts 19:33
And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

for.
Joh 13:24; Ac 12:17; 19:33; 21:40

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Luke 1:21
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
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: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
Luke 1:23
And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

Read all of Luke 1

Luke 1:22 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y saliendo, no les podía hablar: y entendieron que había visto visión en el templo: y él les hablaba por señas, y quedó mudo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et quand il fut sorti, il ne pouvait pas leur parler: et ils reconnurent qu’il avait vu une vision dans le temple; et lui-même leur faisait des signes, et il demeura muet.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als er aber herauskam, konnte er nicht zu ihnen reden, und sie erkannten, daß er im Tempel ein Gesicht gesehen hatte. Und er winkte ihnen zu und blieb stumm.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus.