Luke 2:8-14122 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day ,.... Day is here put for a natural day, consisting both of night and day; for it was night when Christ was born, and the angels brought the tidings of it to the shepherds. The particular day, and it may be, month and year, in which Christ was born, cannot be certainly known; but this we may be sure of, it was in the fulness of time, and at the exact, season fixed upon between God and Christ in the council and covenant of peace; and that he was born, not unto,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:12

And this shall be a sign unto you ,.... When they should come to Bethlehem, and to the inn where Joseph and Mary were: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger ; for though there might be many other children, in the inn, yet none else in swaddling clothes, at least lying in a manger: this sign would distinguish the new born Saviour from all others; had not the angel given them this direction, they would never have thought to have looked for, and found: him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:13

And suddenly there was with the angel ,.... That brought the tidings of Christ's birth to the shepherds: a multitude of the heavenly host: who being caused to fly swiftly, were at once with him, by his side, and about him; and which was a further confirmation of the truth of his message to them: these were angels who were called an host, or army, the militia of heaven, the ministers of God, that wait upon him, and do his pleasure; and are sent forth to minister to his people, and encamp... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest ,.... Which with the following words, are not to be considered as a wish, that so it might be, but as an affirmation, that so it was; for the glory of God is great in the salvation, peace, and reconciliation of his people by Jesus Christ, even the glory of all his perfections; of his wisdom and prudence in forming such a scheme; of his love, grace, and, mercy, the glory of which is his main view, and is hereby answered; and of his holiness, which is hereby... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:15

And it came to pass, as the angels ,.... The Persic version reads in the singular number, "the angel: were gone away from them into heaven", from whence they came, and which was the place of their abode and residence; and therefore they are called the angels of heaven, where they always behold the face of God, hearken to the voice of his commandment, and go and come at his orders; and these having finished their embassy, delivered their message to the shepherds, and done all the work they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:16

And they came with haste ,.... In the night, leaving their flocks, to see their incarnate Lord, as Zacchaeus hastened down from the tree to receive the Saviour. The wonderfulness of the vision, the importance of the thing related, the eagerness of their spirits to see the thing that was told them, put them on making quick dispatch, and hastening to the city with all speed: and found Mary and Joseph ; as they had been directed by the angel, in the city of Bethlehem, in an inn there, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:17

And when they had seen it ,.... Or "him", as the Arabic version reads, the child Jesus, or "them", Joseph, Mary, and the child; or this whole affair, as had been related to them: they made known abroad; not only in the inn, and among all the people there but throughout the city of Bethlehem, the saying which was told them concerning this child : both what the angel had told them concerning his birth, and what he was, and where he lay; and what Mary had told them concerning the notice... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:18

And all they that heard it ,.... What the shepherds related of what they had heard from the angel, and from Joseph and Mary, and what they had seen themselves, wondered at those things that were told them by the shepherds : for though they expected the Messiah, and that he would be born at Bethlehem, yet they did not imagine that he would be born of such mean parents, and appear in such mean circumstances, and in so contemptible a place; and that shepherds, and not the princes of Israel,... read more

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:18

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