3100. 'The man, wondering at her, remained silent' means a state of perception regarding those things. This is clear from the meaning of 'wondering but remaining silent' - when he saw that the things he had spoken in his heart were actually taking place - as a state of acknowledgement, yet at the same time of waiting to see whether it really was so. He 'wondered' because he acknowledged that things were happening as he had prayed, but he 'remained silent' because he was waiting to see whether it was in fact so. This is the state of perception that is meant.

In most cases, the meaning of "before" is pretty straightforward, both as a way of assessing relative time, and in its use meaning "in someone's presence." It takes on a deeper significance, though, when used in connection with the Lord. To be "before" the Lord means not just in His presence, but also receiving the desire for good and the understanding of truth from Him, and living according to them. And when used as an assessment of time in connection with the Lord, "before" means "from eternity," and refers to a spiritual state rather than time as we experience it.

(Ссылки: Apocalypse Revealed 366, 617; Arcana Coelestia 6983, 8439, 9888)