Luke 2:8-20
The apostle Luke writing (God speaking via scripture...The
Word), telling of an angel of the Lord letting the shepherds (lowest class
citizens) be the first to know of the "good news" that the savior of
mankind had been born, Jesus, the Son of God.
Wycliffe Bible of 1384:
King James Bible of 1611:
NAS Bible of 1960:
NIV Bible 1973-78: 8And there were
shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at
night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said
to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You
will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his
favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who
was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the
word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But
Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The
shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had
heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.