Account was disabled

If the message states that your Apple ID is disabled for security reasons see the instructions in: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204106

If it states that your account is disabled in the App Store and iTunes, contact Apple support. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208856

See what FoxFifth said above. And here are some more possibilities:

See If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204306, especially the section entitled Remove your passcode. 

If you don't have a computer to use in the context of Remove your passcode says if you don't have a computer to use, then "borrow one from a friend, or go to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider." Of course the last option usually is not available now.

Later the document says: "If you can't update or restore your device using recovery mode, or you can't use recovery mode because of broken or stuck buttons, contact Apple Support. Then follow the steps to set up service for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch."

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Also see Turn off Activation Lock https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201441

Briefly, to remove the activation lock you will need to have the Apple ID/Password of the rightful owner of the device or alternatively be able to answer the related security questions acceptably. Otherwise, unless there are extenuating circumstances Apple, will not remove the activation lock. To deal with the possibility you have an extenuating circumstance, use these support options:

Get a call from Apple support to help solve your problem using this link https://getsupport.apple.com/?caller=kbase&PGF=PGF63005&category_id=SC0245&symptom_id=23362

Apple ID Support https://support.apple.com/apple-id

Apple ID account security for country-specific and

region-specific help https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204169

Get Support: We’re here to help  https://getsupport.apple.com/. Go

through the options to find the best support option.

Thanks. I checked another machine of mine, and all was good. I went back to the first machine; pondered a bit; and restarted it. Voila, it was fixed. What a troubleshooter I am. lol! Sorry I bothered you, but I appreciate your post.

Check out what the contact Apple Support link in the second document you posted is doing. It's coming up in a foreign language for me.

Not sure why; it is working normally for me.

I'd give you a "Solved" if I could!