^2:9An²⁷ angel of the Lord²⁸ appeared to²⁹ them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.³⁰^2:10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully,³¹ for I proclaim to you good news³² that brings great joy to all the people: ^2:11Today³³ your Savior is born in the city³⁴ of David.³⁵ He is Christ³⁶ the Lord. ^2:12This³⁷ will be a sign³⁸ for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”³⁹^2:13Suddenly⁴⁰ a vast, heavenly army⁴¹ appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

^2:14“Glory⁴² to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among people⁴³ with whom he is pleased!”⁴⁴

^2:15When⁴⁵ the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem⁴⁶ and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord⁴⁷ has made known to us.”

Read in Logos

Luke 2:11: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Footnotes

27 Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
28 Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in .
29 Or “stood in front of.”
30 Grk “they feared a great fear” (a Semitic idiom which intensifies the main idea, in this case their fear). Terrified. See similar responses in Luke 1:12, 29.
31 Grk “behold.”
32 Grk “I evangelize to you great joy.”
33 The Greek word for today (σήμερον, sēmeron) occurs eleven times in the Gospel of Luke (2:11; 4:21; 5:26; 12:28; 13:32–33; 19:5, 9; 22:34, 61; 23:43) and nine times in Acts. Its use, especially in passages such as 2:11, 4:21, 5:26; 19:5, 9, signifies the dawning of the era of messianic salvation and the fulfillment of the plan of God. Not only does it underscore the idea of present fulfillment in Jesus’ ministry, but it also indicates salvific fulfillment present in the church (cf. Acts 1:6; 3:18; D. L. Bock, Luke [], 1:; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [], ).
34 Or “town.” See the note on “city” in v. .
35 This is another indication of a royal, messianic connection.
36 Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.” The term χριστός (christos) was originally an adjective (“anointed”), developing in into a substantive (“an anointed one”), then developing still further into a technical generic term (“the anointed one”). In the intertestamental period it developed further into a technical term referring to the hoped-for anointed one, that is, a specific individual. In the NT the development starts there (technical-specific), is so used in the gospels, and then develops in Paul to mean virtually Jesus’ last name.
37 Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
38 The sign functions for the shepherds like Elizabeth’s conception served for Mary in 1:36.
39 Or “a feeding trough,” see Luke 2:7.
40 Grk “And suddenly.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
41 Grk “a multitude of the armies of heaven.”
42 Glory here refers to giving honor to God.
43 This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos) referring to both males and females.
44 Most witnesses (א2 B2 L Θ Ξ Ψ f1, 13 𝔐 sy bo) have ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκία (en anthrōpois eudokia, “good will among people”) instead of ἐν ἀνθρώποις εὐδοκίας (en anthrōpois eudokias, “among people with whom he is pleased”), a reading attested by א* A B* D W (sa). Most of the Itala witnesses and some other versional witnesses reflect a Greek text which has the genitive εὐδοκίας but drops the preposition ἐν. Not only is the genitive reading better attested, but it is more difficult than the nominative. “The meaning seems to be, not that divine peace can be bestowed only where human good will is already present, but that at the birth of the Saviour God’s peace rests on those whom he has chosen in accord with his good pleasure” ( ).
45 Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
46 For location see ; ; ; .
47 Note how although angels delivered the message, it was the Lord whose message is made known, coming through them.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

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

NIVNew International Version (2011)

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

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

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

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

Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to people he favors!

When 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.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace

among people with whom he is pleased!”

And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!”

KJV 1900King James Version

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace,

Good will toward men.

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 Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

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