Luke 2:8–21

THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS

⁸In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord^q stood before them,^r and the glory of the Lord^s shone around them, and they were terrified.^{F 10}But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid,^t for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:^{G 11}Today in the city of David a Savior^u was born for you, who is the Messiah,^v the Lord.^{w 12}This will be the sign for you:^x You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host^H with the angel, praising God and saying:

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest heaven,^y

and peace on earth^z to people he favors!^IJaa

¹⁵When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed^ab at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart^ac and meditating on them. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God^ad for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

THE CIRCUMCISION AND PRESENTATION OF JESUS

²¹When the eight days were completed for his circumcision,^ae he was named Jesus^af—the name given by the angel before he was conceived.