King James Bible
"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years."
Zacharias responds to Gabriel's announcement of a son with skepticism, asking for proof or a sign. His question echoes Abraham's similar doubt in Genesis 15:8, yet unlike Mary's later inquiry about the mechanics of virgin birth, Zacharias questions the very possibility of the promise. The priest justifies his doubt by citing their advanced age as an insurmountable obstacle to conception. This reasoning parallels Sarah and Abraham's situation, suggesting Zacharias should have recognized God's power to work beyond natural limitations, especially given his priestly knowledge of Scripture.