Luke 2:15

When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

World English Bible
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WEBBE

When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

BSB

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

KJV

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

ASV

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

BBE

And when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the keepers of the sheep said to one another, Let us go now to Beth-lehem, and see this thing which has come about, which the Lord has made clear to us.

Original Greek

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Καὶ Kai And G2532 ἐγένετο egeneto it came to pass G1096 ὡς hōs as G5613 ἀπῆλθον apēlthon they were departing G565 ἀπ ap᾽ from G575 αὐτῶν autōn them G846 εἰς eis into G1519 τὸν ton the G3588 οὐρανὸν ouranon heaven G3772 οἱ hoi the G3588 ἄγγελοι angeloi angels G32 καὶ kai and G2532 οἱ hoi the G3588 ἄνθρωποι anthrōpoi men G444 οἱ hoi (the) G3588 ποιμένες poimenes shepherds G4166 ἐλάλουν elaloun were speaking G2980 πρὸς pros to G4314 ἀλλήλους allēlous one another G240 διέλθωμεν dielthōmen Let us go through G1330 δὴ dē indeed G1211 ἕως he'ōs until G2193 Βηθλέεμ Bēthleem Bethlehem G965 καὶ kai and G2532 ἴδωμεν idōmen let us see G1492 τὸ to (the) G3588 ῥῆμα rhēma declaration G4487 τοῦτο touto this G3778 τὸ to that G3588 γεγονὸς gegonos having happened G1096 ὃ ho which G3739 ὁ ho the G3588 κύριος kurios Lord G2962 ἐγνώρισεν egnōrisen has made known G1107 ἡμῖν hēmin to us G3165

The early church

But in a mystery, the Angels saw that they could not accomplish the work committed to them without Him Who was truly able to save, and that their healing fell short of what the care of men required. And so it was as if there should come one who had great knowledge in medicine, and those who before were unable to heal, acknowledging now the hand of a master, grudge not to see the corruptions of wounds ceasing, but break forth into the praises of the Physician, and of that God who sent to them and to the sick a man of such knowledge; the multitudes of the Angels praised God for the coming of Christ.
Origen of Alexandria · d. 253Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
As men who were truly watching, they said not, Let us see (the child; but) the word which has come to pass, i. e. the Word which was from the beginning, let us see how it has been made flesh for us. since this very Word is the Lord. For it follows, Which the Lord hath made, and has shown to us; i. e. Let us see how the Lord hath made Himself, and hath shown His flesh to us.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
To speak in a mystery, let the shepherds of spiritual flocks, (nay, all the faithful,) after the example of these shepherds, go in thought even to Bethlehem, and celebrate the incarnation of Christ with due honours. Let us go indeed casting aside all fleshly lusts, with the whole desire of the mind even to the heavenly Bethlehem, (i. e. the house of the living bread,) that He whom they saw crying in the manger we may deserve to see reigning on the throne of His Father. And such bliss as this is not to be sought for with sloth and idleness, but with eagerness must we follow the footsteps of Christ. When they saw Him they knew Him; and let us haste to embrace in the fulness of our love those things which were spoken of our Saviour, that When the time shall come that we shall see with perfect knowledge we may be able to comprehend them.
Bede · d. 735Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)
(Geometer.) The shepherds were filled with astonishment at the things that they saw and heard, and so they left their sheep-folds, and set out by night to Bethlehem, seeking for the light of the Saviour; and therefore it is said, They spoke one to another, &c.
Ancient Greek Expositor · d. 1274Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 8–20

Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 2 →

Cross-references

10

People & places

Bethlehem

Topics

Bethlehem

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.