Luke 1:10 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. The whole multitude - were praying - The incense was itself an emblem of the prayers and praises of the people of God: see Psalms 141:2; Revelation 8:1. While, therefore, the rite is performing by the priest, the people are employed in the thing signified. Happy the people who attend to the spirit as well as the letter of every divine institution! Incense was burnt twice a day in the temple, in the morning and in the evening, Exodus 30:7, Exodus 30:8; but the evangelist does not specify the time of the day in which this transaction took place. It was probably in the morning.