The Shepherds and the Angels
Shepherds keep watch in the fields when an angel appears, the Lord’s glory shines around them, and fear falls on them.
A8nd there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
The angel tells the shepherds not to fear, brings good news of great joy for all the people, and identifies the child as a Savior, Christ the Lord, found in a manger.
10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
A great multitude of the heavenly host appears with the angel and praises God in the highest.
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: 14“Glory to God in the highest,
After the angels depart, the shepherds go quickly to Bethlehem, find Mary, Joseph, and the baby, spread the message, and watch others wonder while Mary treasures it. They return praising God because everything matched what they had heard.
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. 17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 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 they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.