Luke 2:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.”

NIV: 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.'

NASB: When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, 'Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'

CSB: 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."

NLT: 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.'

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.

NKJV: So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Shortly after Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem (Luke 2:6–7), angels proclaimed the event to local shepherds (Luke 2:8–14). God's reasons for this announcement are not clear. It's possible this is meant to emphasize that the Messiah is for all people, and that He will work primarily through common and everyday persons. Other Gospels make it clear that religious leaders and kings were not especially interested in Jesus' role as Messiah at the time He was born (Matthew 2:7, 16).

Though the angel didn't demand the shepherds go to see Jesus, his announcement told them where Christ could be found (Luke 2:12). This assumed the men's natural reaction would be to investigate this good news. Here, the men plan to do exactly that. They will go into the local town, Bethlehem, to see for themselves the infant Jesus.

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.