Gabriel went on to inform Zechariah that God would indeed give him a sign, but it was one that matched his unbelief and one that would be a chastening to purge him of his sad reliance on reason. Zechariah had heard God speaking certain words to him, but he doubted the welcome news those words brought. Now Zechariah would be able to do no speaking until the promised child was born. The time for Zechariah to emerge from the Holy Place had long passed. The people outside were wondering: “What is keeping