“Zechariah

Said to the angel.

‘How will I know

That this is so?

I am an old man.

My wife

Is getting on in years.’”

 

καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον Κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο; ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς.

 

Luke indicated that there was a moment of hesitancy on the part of Zechariah.  He responded to the angel (καὶ εἶπεν Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον) that he was not sure how could he know all this was going to happen (Κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο)?  He explained that he was an elderly old man, a presbyter (ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης).  Also, his wife was advanced in her years (καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς).  In other words, they were old folks, not young spring chickens.  How could they have a child?