King James Bible
"And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea."
Following Zechariah's miraculous healing and prophecy about John the Baptist, the neighbors experience holy awe—a reverential fear recognizing God's supernatural intervention. This fear reflects the typical biblical response when divine power breaks into ordinary life. The extraordinary events surrounding John's birth—Zechariah's muteness, angelic visitation, and sudden healing—become the subject of widespread discussion. The passive construction suggests an organic, irresistible spread of this news. The mountainous region of Judea, with its many villages and strong religious identity, serves as the geographical stage for these events. This specific location emphasizes that God's redemptive work begins in the Jewish heartland, fulfilling Old Testament expectations.