Luke 2:15-16

The angels went away into heaven, their dwelling place and God’s; they did not disappear instantaneously. Luke showed interest in spatial relationships in his Gospel (cf. Luke 24:51) and in Acts (cf. Acts 1:11). The shepherds, on the other hand, hurried off to Bethlehem (cf. Luke 1:39). This has been called "the first Christmas rush." They realized that the angels’ message came from the Lord. Contrast the attitude of the religious leaders who, though they heard of Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, did not bother to check it out (Matthew 2:5). Luke did not break the feeling of excitement and swift action in the narrative by describing how the shepherds located the manger. In Luke’s account there is no mention of the star that appeared to the wise men.

"It is most likely that these shepherds were in charge of the flocks from which the Temple offerings were chosen. It is a lovely thought that the shepherds who looked after the Temple lambs were the first to see the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." [Note: Ibid.]