Luke 2:13

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 men in whom he is well pleased.

A multitude of the heavenly host ... A host of angels is represented in the Old Testament as forming the bodyguard of Deity (Psalms 103:21; Daniel 7:10). As Boles said, "This praise was a proclamation of the newborn King and a confirmation of the glorious tidings to the shepherds, and through them to all people."[18] Angels shouted for joy at creation (Job 38:7), served at the giving of the Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19); and now, with greater wonder than ever, and with even greater joy, they celebrated the entry of God into human life. "Peace" was proclaimed by angels on the night in which the Prince of Peace was born.

Glory to God in the highest ... is the so-called "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," another of the famous Latin hymns of Christendom. The variations of the renditions of "peace to men of good will," "peace on earth; good will to men," or as here, are of no importance, although this version is preferable, due to the fact of its keeping in view the truth that it is not "good will to men" who are wicked, but "good will to men" who honor God, which was promised and proclaimed by the angelic host.

Did the angels sing on this occasion? "The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy" (Job 38:7) in creation; and there can be no doubt, really, that they did so here. However, there is no New Testament word to confirm the comment that "The choir which so suddenly joined the angelic messenger sang heavenly music about the Prince of Heaven."[19]

[18] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Nashville: The Gospel Advocate Company, 1940), p. 55.

[19] Charles L. Childers, op. cit., p. 448.