Why did the Jews realize something supernatural was happening when Zacharias spoke?
The Jews recognized something supernatural because Zacharias, who had been stricken dumb throughout Elizabeth's gestation, suddenly regained his voice. Moreover, he was filled with the Holy Spirit, meaning his speech was God-directed, not merely the wishful thinking of a patriotic or religious Jew.
Les explains that Zacharias was the father of John the Baptist and an active priest serving at the temple. He had been stricken dumb during Elizabeth's gestation, but now he suddenly got his voice back, and the Jews realized that something supernatural was taking place. Verse 67 says Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit. Les stresses that whenever the Bible speaks of someone as filled with the Spirit, everything they speak is going to be God-directed. So his words were not just the wishful thinking of a good patriotic or religious Jew; they were the very expressions of God Himself concerning the nation. Zacharias then blessed the Lord God of Israel, saying He had visited and redeemed His people.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
More Questions
When Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, was he speaking wishful thinking?
When Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, his coming utterance was prompted by that Spirit, not by wishful thinking or Jewish nationalistic and patriotic hopes.
Was Zacharias's prophecy in Luke 1:68 prompted by the Holy Spirit or by his own wishful thinking?
Zacharias's prophecy after John's birth was prompted by the Holy Spirit that filled him, not by wishful thinking from a nationalistic, patriotic, religious Jew.
Were Zacharias's words in Luke 1 just an old Jewish man's patriotic hopes, or were they God's own words?
Zacharias's words in Luke 1:68, spoken after he was filled with the Spirit, are not his own wishful thinking as a patriotic or religious Jew; they are the very expressions of God Himself concerning the nation.