luke-2:6-16,-luke-2:12-niv

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:7

Laid him in a manger - Wetstein has shown, from a multitude of instances, that φατνη means not merely the manger, but the whole stable, and this I think is its proper meaning in this place. The Latins use praesepe , a manger, in the same sense. So Virgil, Aen. vii. p. 275. Stabant ter centum nitidi in praesepibus altis "Three hundred sleek horses stood in lofty stables." Many have thought that this was a full proof of the meanness and poverty of the holy family, that they were... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:11

A Savior, which is Christ the Lord - A Savior, σωτηρ , the same as Jesus from σωζειν , to make safe, to deliver, preserve, to make alive, thus used by the Septuagint for החיה hecheiah , to cause to escape; used by the same for פלט to confide in, to hope. See the extensive acceptations of the verb in Mintert, who adds under Σωτηρ : "The word properly denotes such a Savior as perfectly frees us from all evil and danger, and is the author of perpetual salvation." On the word Jesus,... read more

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:7

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:11

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