it fell to him by lot, as was the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense,

Now the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering that he stayed so long inside the sanctuary.

When he did come out he could not speak to them, so they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary; he made signs to them and remained dumb.

from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.

for the sun had failed to shine. And the curtain before the sanctuary was torn in two.