He asked: “My Lord! How can I have a boy while old age has verily affected me, and my woman is barren?” He replied: “Just like that Lord Allah does as He wishes”.
“Testifying with a word from Allah” mentioned in verse 3: 39 is about the body of Jesus. It is told in verse 4: 171 that Jesus, the son of Maryam, is only a Messenger of Lord and ‘His word’ which He bestowed into Maryam and a spirit from Him. That means the body of Jesus was the word: “Be, then it is”. Not only for Messenger Jesus but also all creatures, the spirit containing ‘Life and soul’ is from Lord’s Spirit. So miraculous birth of Prophet Yahiya testifies to the miraculous birth of Messenger Jesus. The word pious means without having any passion towards ladies, bachelorhood, chaste, having self-control, heedful, etc. See explanation 1: 6; 2: 28 and 19: 7-15.