 | So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. |
 | And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. |
 | When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us." So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. |
| Luke 2: 15-16 |
Commentary
The word translated "thing" in this passage denotes much more in Greek than it does in English. The term literally means "word" or "reality." The shepherds understood that they had received a word from God, and the reality of it was that Messiah had been born that same day. And the reality was something they could confirm tangibly because the angel gave them a sign to look for, a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (2:12).
MacArthur, J. (2001). God in the manger : The miraculous birth of Christ (89). Nashville, Tenn.: W Pub. Group.
Did you know?
In that day, shepherds were looked upon with disdain; but God singled them out to be the first human messengers of Messiah's birth.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1991). With the word Bible commentary (Lk 2:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1991). With the word Bible commentary (Lk 2:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.