Luke 2:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

NASB: And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

CSB: Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

NLT: Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

The men visited here are shepherds in the middle of an otherwise ordinary night guarding sheep (Luke 2:8). Nearby, Mary has just given birth to the Messiah, Jesus (Luke 2:6–7). Why the angel delivers this message, the Bible does not explicitly say. The fact that Jesus' arrival is meant as good news for all mankind, even the poor and lowly, might be highlighted by God's choice to make common shepherds the first on earth to learn what has happened.

Scripture indicates that people who see angels in "spiritual" form often respond with fear (Luke 1:13; Matthew 28:4; Numbers 22:3). That's not surprising when one considers how powerful these beings are (Genesis 19:12–13; 2 Kings 19:35). Even if someone recognized the being as a messenger of God, they would probably remember that angels do not always come with good news (2 Samuel 24:16). The appearance of this angel must be especially dramatic. The men are described using the Greek phrase ephobēthēsan phobon megan, literally meaning "frightened with massive fear." They aren't merely unnerved or startled: they are struck with terror.

Thankfully, the angel will quickly reassure them and go on to explain the reason for his visit (Luke 2:10–11). The initial fright will turn into wonder (Luke 2:13–14), then excitement (Luke 2:15–16), then triumph (Luke 2:20).

Luke 2:8–21 describes shepherds who are visited by numerous angels. These beings proclaim the birth of Christ and explain where He can be found. The men follow the angels' directions and find Jesus, Joseph, and Mary just as predicted. Jesus' family celebrates these events, as God continues to use simple people to proclaim His most important truths. When Jesus is eight days old, in accordance with Jewish tradition, he is circumcised and officially given His prophesied name.

The early part of this chapter is famously read at Christmas, while celebrating the birth of Jesus. Luke gives a relatively brief description of how Mary came to give birth in a stable, laying Jesus in a feeding trough. Nearby shepherds are informed of the news by multiple angels. Two people speak in praise of God at Jesus' circumcision. Years later, Joseph and Mary lose track of Jesus on the way back from Jerusalem, only to find Him astounding teachers in the temple with His wisdom.

Luke began his well-organized account by explaining the conceptions of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, in chapter 1. In chapter 2, he briefly summarizes Jesus' birth and the arrival of shepherds directed by angels. Prophecies and prayers celebrate His dedication at the temple. After briefly losing track of a twelve-year-old Jesus in the temple, Jesus' parents take Him home to Nazareth. There, He grows up relatively normally. Chapter 3 leaps forward many years to the beginning of John the Baptist's preaching. This is followed by Jesus' genealogy. Chapter 4 relates Jesus' temptations by Satan and the start of His public ministry.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.