Luke1:18

Translation

Then ZACHARIAH spoke to the angel and said, “By what will I know this,

Go to footnote number

for indeed I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years?”

Paraphrase

Then THE ONE WHOM THE ETERNAL AND PERSONAL GOD REMEMBERS spoke to the messenger and said, “How can I be sure this will come true, for I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years?”

Footnotes

1: “by what will I know this?”

THE ONE WHOM THE ETERNAL AND PERSONAL GOD REMEMBERS was just told that God had indeed been paying attention to his requests, (remembering him), however, he was still not sure that he was being remembered by God, so he wanted some assurance. Maybe this is why he was given a sign with a negative consequence. The fulfillment of his name should have been enough for him. Also the angel had included Old Testament prophecy which was in process of being fulfilled. As a priest he should have been tuned in to that type of thing without doubting.