Luke 2:8-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 2:8-20

The meanest circumstances of Christ's humiliation were all along attended with some discoveries of his glory, to balance them, and take off the offence of them; for even when he humbled himself God did in some measure exalt him and give him earnests of his future exaltation. When we saw him wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, we were tempted to say, ?Surely this cannot be the Son of God.? But see his birth attended, as it is here, with a choir of angels, and we shall say,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 2:8-20

2:8-20 In this country there were shepherds who were in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were much afraid. The angel said to them. "Do not be afraid; for--look you--I am bringing you good news of great joy, which will be to every people, for today a Saviour has been born for you, in David's town, who is Christ the Lord. You will recognize him by this sign. You will find the babe... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:8

And there were in the same country shepherds ,.... For Bethlehem was a place of pasture: near to Ephrata, the same with Bethlehem, were the fields of the wood, Psalm 132:6 and the tower of Edar or the tower of the flock, Genesis 35:21 and here David kept his father's sheep, 1 Samuel 17:15 so that we need not wonder to hear of shepherds here, abiding in the field, watching over their flock by night : from whence it appears, that Christ was born in the night; and the F15 Tzeror... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:9

And lo, the angel of the Lord ,.... It may be Gabriel, who had brought the tidings of the conception of the Messiah to the virgin, and now the birth of him to the shepherds: came upon them ; on a sudden, unexpectedly, at once, and stood by them, as some versions read; or rather, stood over them, over their heads, just above them; so that he was easily and perfectly seen by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; or a very glorious and extraordinary light shone with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:10

And the angel said unto them; fear not ,.... For he was not a messenger of bad, but of good tidings: for behold, I bring you good tidings; tidings, that were both wonderful and amazing, and therefore a "behold" is prefixed to them, as well as to excite to attention; and which were good news, and glad tidings, for such the birth of Christ of a virgin is: in which the good will and amazing love of Cod to man are displayed, and the promises, and prophecies relating to him fulfilled; and the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:8

There were - shepherds abiding in the field - There is no intimation here that these shepherds were exposed to the open air. They dwelt in the fields where they had their sheep penned up; but they undoubtedly had tents or booths under which they dwelt. Keeping watch - by night - Or, as in the margin, keeping the watches of the night, i.e. each one keeping a watch (which ordinarily consisted of three hours) in his turn. The reason why they watched them in the field appears to have been,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:9

The angel of the Lord came upon them - Or, stood over them, επεστη . It is likely that the angel appeared in the air at some little distance above them, and that from him the rays of the glory of the Lord shone round about them, as the rays of light are projected from the sun. They were sore afraid - Terrified with the appearance of so glorious a being, and probably fearing that he was a messenger of justice, coming to denounce Divine judgments, or punish them immediately, for sins... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:10

Behold, I bring you good tidings - I am not come to declare the judgments of the Lord, but his merciful loving-kindness, the subject being a matter of great joy. He then declares his message. Unto you - to the Jews first, and then to the human race. Some modern MSS. with the utmost impropriety read ἡμιν , us, as if angels were included in this glorious work of redemption; but St. Paul says, he took not upon him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, i.e. the nature of Abraham and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:8

Verse 8 8.And there were shepherds It would have been to no purpose that Christ was born in Bethlehem, if it had not been made known to the world. But the method of doing so, which is described by Luke, appears to the view of men very unsuitable. First, Christ is revealed but to a few witnesses, and that too amidst the darkness of night. Again, though God had, at his command, many honorable and distinguished witnesses, he passed by them, and chose shepherds, persons of humble rank, and of no... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:9

Verse 9 9.And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them He says, that the glory of the Lord (145) shone around the shepherds, by which they perceived him to be an angel. (146) For it would have been of little avail to be told by an angel what is related by Luke, if God had not testified, by some outward sign, that what they heard proceeded from Him. The angel appeared, not in an ordinary form, or without majesty, but surrounded with the brightness of heavenly glory, to affect powerfully the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 2:8-20

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 2:8-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:9

Group of Brands