<p>1:18- see on Lk. 22:45.</p><p><i>And Zacharias said to the angel: How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years</i>- Mary likewise had this question as to &quot;how shall this be&quot;, but the same words were spoken with a different attitude. She believed, but was naturally curious to know the mechanical side of how a virgin was going to conceive. Zacharias asked the same question but from a motive of unbelief. The same words may be found on different lips, but are judged differently by God. This shows how we should not judge others' words not least because we cannot judge, we cannot see to the heart which is behind the external words and actions. In this case, like us so often, Zacharias listed all the human barriers to the fulfilment of God's word, and considered them more powerful than the word of God.</p><p>It seems Zacharias probably said far more than &quot;How shall I know this?&quot; when Gabriel told him he would soon have a son. It would seem the conversation went on for so long that the people outside wondered why he was staying so long. Presumably he remonstrated with the Angel with other, graciously unrecorded words, and thereby earnt the punishment of dumbness. At the shores of the Red Sea, it seems Moses' faith wavered, and he prayed something at best inappropriate. All we read is God's response: &quot;Why do you cry to me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward&quot; (Ex. 14:15). It seems again that Moses' &quot;cry&quot; isn't recorded- by grace.</p>