Christmas Readings: The Angels & The Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)

This Bible reading forms part of our Advent reflections series. We offer these readings of traditional advent passages as an aid to your devotions, as you prepare your heart for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas. Featuring original music by Our Healing Space. Text taken from the World English Bible (public domain).

Transcript

Luke chapter 2 verses 8 to 20,

The angels and the shepherds.

There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field and keeping watch by night over their flock.

Behold,

An angel of the Lord stood by them,

And the glory of the Lord shone around them,

And they were terrified.

The angels said to them,

Don't be afraid,

For behold,

I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

For there is born to you today in David's city a Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord.

This is the sign to you.

You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth,

Lying in a feeding trough.

Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace,

Good will toward men.

When the angels went away from them into the sky,

The shepherds said to one another,

Let's go to Bethlehem now and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.

They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph,

And the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

When they saw it,

They publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

All who heard it wondered at the things which are spoken to them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things,

Pondering them in her heart.

The shepherds returned,

Glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen just as it was told them.