Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Luke 1:11
Though we translate it appeared, yet in the Greek it is, there was seen of him. An angel indeed was there; whether the angel Gabriel or not, or in what form he appeared, it is not said. It is by some observed, that until the Urim and Thummim ceased, no angel appeared to any priest executing his office; after this, it is observed by others, that most appearances of angels to the priests were when they were employed in their service in the temple. read more
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Luke 1:10
We are told, that the order of the Jewish daily service was this: twice in the day the priests whose course it was to minister, or such of them whose lot it was, went into the holy place to burn incense, according to the law, Exodus 30:7. When they went in, a bell rung, to give notice that it was the hour of prayer. There were constantly there, 1. The rest of the priests of the same course. 2. The Levites. 3. Their stationary men, who represented the whole congregation, and laid their hands... read more