The Birth of Jesus Proclaimed by Angels to the Shepherds.

  14 Glory to God in the highest

  15 And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath unto us.

  16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

  17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about the child.

[They were the first evangelists. Among the heralds of Christ we note one great prophet, John the Baptist, and one learned Pharisee, Paul; the rest are shepherds, fishermen, and publicans, yet their gospel has triumphed over the wisdom of men ( 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 ; 2 Corinthians 4:7 ). The shepherds were moved to publish by the same spirit which actuated the lepers at Samaria-- 2 Kings 7:9 .]

  16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

  17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about the child.

  18 And all that heard it wondered [the gospel story excites wonder; the more we ponder it the more wonderful it becomes] at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.

  19 But Mary kept all these sayings

[The silence of Mary contrasts with the talkativeness of the shepherds. But is the duty of Christians both to ponder and to publish], pondering them in her heart. [Only Mary could know the fact here stated; and the statement indicates that Luke got the opening parts of his Gospel from the mother of our Lord. She had much to think about. The angelic messages to Zacharias, to herself, and to the shepherds were full of significance, and her mind would search diligently to comprehend the fullness of their meaning. In her quiet thoughtfulness the beauty of the Virgin's character shines forth-- 1 Peter 3:4 .]

  19 But Mary kept all these sayings

  20 And the shepherds returned [they did not make this glorious occasion an excuse for neglecting their humble duties], glorifying [because of the greatness of that which had been revealed] and praising God [because of the goodness of that which he revealed] for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. [Jesus came in exactly the same manner in which his coming had been spoken of or described by the angels a few hours before; and also just as his coming had been spoken of or described by the prophets centuries and centuries before. God's word holds good for eternity as truly as for one day. The shepherds doubtless passed to their reward the thirty years which Jesus spent in seclusion prior to his entering upon his ministry. But the rest of their commonplace life was now filled with music of praise, and their night watches lit by the glory of God, which could never entirely fade away.]