The people were waiting for Zechariah in the outer court. They were expecting a priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24–26). His muteness was interpreted by them as his having seen a vision while in the temple. In spite of valiant attempts on his part, Zechariah’s use of signs did not tell them what had happened.
On returning home, he must have told Elizabeth what had occurred. We suspect that he told her by means of a writing tablet (see Luke 1:63). In any case, she becomes pregnant and spends the first five months in seclusion, probably in part because of embarrassment and in part because she does not want to say too much too soon. Still, it is obvious that she also feels both blessed and relieved. The shadow of infertility that had hung over her and Zechariah’s life for so long is about to be removed by God. And how!
21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.