“of the People.” No Gentiles were allowed just outside the sanctuary, in what was called the court of men and women. The use of the Greek word laos for “people” here in Luke 1:10 refers specifically to the Jews. See commentary on Luke 2:10; “the people.”

“at the hour of incense.” The incense was to be burned on the altar of incense that was in front of the doors leading to the Holy of Holies in the Temple. According to Jewish custom, the incense was burned before the morning sacrifice and after the evening sacrifice (cp. Exod. 30:7-8) The evening sacrifice was killed at about 3 p.m. (cp. Acts 3:1) and the incense was burned after that. Although the Bible does not say whether Zechariah was chosen to burn the morning incense or the evening incense, it seems that the evening incense is more logical due to the multitude of people present when he came out of the sanctuary.