Zacharias was as much astonished at the words of the angel, as he was at his appearance. He had so humble an opinion of himself that he thought it could not be possible that he was thus to be honored of the Lord. He inquired, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. Zacharias for a moment forgot the unlimited power of God, and that nothing was impossible with him. He did not call to mind the case of Abraham and Sarah, and the fulfillment of the promise of God to them. {2SP 44.2}

Zakarias var meget forbavset over englens ord, da han var for hans åsyn. Han var så beskeden at han mente at det ikke var muligt at blive så æret af Herren. Han spurgte: Hvorved kan jeg vide dette? For jeg er en gammel mand, og min hustru er højt oppe i årene. Zakaris glemte et øjeblik Guds ubegrænsede kraft, og at intet var umuligt for ham. Han huskede ikke Abrahams og Saras tilfælde, og opfyldelsen af Guds løfte for dem.