Luke 2 15

Luke 2:15 kjv

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.

Luke 2:15 nkjv

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."

Luke 2:15 niv

When 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."

Luke 2:15 esv

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

Luke 2:15 nlt

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

Luke 2 verses

Luke 2 15 Meaning

Luke 2:15 describes the shepherds' immediate, unified, and purposeful response following the departure of the angelic hosts who announced the birth of the Messiah. After hearing the divine proclamation, these humble men deliberated among themselves and resolved to promptly travel to Bethlehem. Their intent was to personally witness "this thing" – the promised event – which God had directly revealed to them. This verse signifies the transition from divine revelation to human action, demonstrating faith and obedience.

Luke 2 15 Context

Luke 2:15 sits precisely at the juncture between divine revelation and human response in the birth narrative of Jesus. Earlier in the chapter, Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem due to Caesar's census (Lk 2:1-5), where Jesus is born in humble circumstances and laid in a manger (Lk 2:6-7). The pivotal moment immediately preceding this verse is the glorious appearance of an angel and a multitude of the heavenly host to shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem, announcing the Savior's birth and providing signs (Lk 2:8-14). Their angelic message includes "Fear not," "good tidings of great joy," a "Savior, who is Christ the Lord," and the signs of a "babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." With the angels now gone, the focus shifts to how the shepherds, the recipients of this momentous news, will react. The verse sets up the shepherds' immediate action to seek out and verify what they have been told, leading directly into their finding Jesus (Lk 2:16) and subsequently spreading the news (Lk 2:17-20). The historical context underscores the significance of shepherds – typically of low social status and considered ceremonially unclean – being the first to receive this ultimate divine revelation, contrasting with the religious and political elites who remained oblivious. Their choice highlights God's preference for the humble and outcast.

Luke 2 15 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (Kai egeneto): A common, characteristic phrase in Luke and Acts, signifying a new development in the narrative. It often functions to introduce a consequential event or a transition to the next stage of divine action, linking the angelic declaration with the human response.
• when the angels were gone away from them into heaven (hōs apēlthon ap' autōn eis ton ouranon hoi angeloi): "Gone away" (apēlthon) indicates the completion of their divine mission and physical departure. Their return "into heaven" (eis ton ouranon) highlights their supernatural origin and the temporary nature of their physical manifestation on Earth. This moment signifies the transfer of responsibility for action from the divine messengers to human agents.
• the shepherds said one to another (hoi poimenes elaloun pros allēlous): "Said" (elaloun) is in the imperfect tense, suggesting not a singular, instantaneous utterance but rather an ongoing conversation, deliberation, or shared discussion among them. This indicates unity, consensus, and shared conviction among the shepherds regarding their next steps. They conferred, showing communal validation and a unified resolve to act.
• Let us now go (Dielthōmen dē heōs): "Let us go" (Dielthōmen) is a strong deliberative subjunctive, expressing a determined and purposeful decision. It implies a clear intention and an active undertaking. "Now" (dē) emphasizes immediacy and urgency. They wasted no time in responding to the heavenly revelation.
• even unto Bethlehem (heōs Bēthleem): The specified destination confirms their direct obedience to the angelic instruction and the prophetic significance of Bethlehem (Mic 5:2) as the city of David, and now, the birthplace of the Messiah. Their journey is purposeful and targeted.
• and see this thing (kai idōmen to rhēma): "See" (idōmen) is an aorist subjunctive, implying seeing with purpose, understanding, and experiencing, not merely observing. It means to "look upon" or "discern" in a meaningful way, to ascertain the truth of the situation. "This thing" (to rhēma) literally means "the word" or "the utterance," referring to the divine message just proclaimed by the angels. For the shepherds, "the word" had now become "the event" or "the reality" which they were eager to verify and experience firsthand.
• which is come to pass (to gegonos): This phrase describes the reality of "the word" (rhēma) as an accomplished fact. "Come to pass" (gegonos) is a perfect participle of ginomai ("to become" or "to happen"), emphasizing that the prophesied or announced event has now occurred and holds concrete reality.
• which the Lord hath made known unto us (ho ho Kyrios egnōrisen hēmin): "The Lord" (ho Kyrios) directly attributes the revelation to God Himself, emphasizing divine sovereignty. "Made known" (egnōrisen) is in the aorist tense, highlighting that this revelation was a definite and complete act of God. It affirms the divine origin of the news and establishes the credibility for the shepherds' subsequent action.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another": This group of phrases highlights the dynamic transition. The fleeting nature of divine visitation gives way to immediate human discourse and communal decision-making. God’s revelation empowers and necessitates human response.
• "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing": This embodies prompt, obedient action. It shows a united, decisive desire to actively engage with the divine truth. Their journey is driven by faith and the compelling need to personally verify the extraordinary news, moving from merely hearing to actively seeking.
• "this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us": This collective thought reflects the shepherds’ understanding of the profound theological significance of the event. They comprehend that this is not a random occurrence, but a divinely orchestrated fulfillment ("come to pass") revealed directly by God ("the Lord hath made known"), thereby establishing the legitimacy and sacredness of their quest.

Luke 2 15 Bonus section

• The Luke narrative often elevates the humble and marginalized. The shepherds, representatives of the societal fringes, are chosen as the first recipients of the ultimate good news, setting a theme that runs throughout Luke's Gospel, where God's favor is often shown to those overlooked by human systems.
• Their unified response ("one to another") suggests the power of communal faith and shared conviction in responding to God's call. It was not one shepherd's personal whim but a collective, affirmed decision.
• The distinction between rhema (word/utterance) and logos (divine Word/Christ) is important. While the angels gave a rhema (spoken message), the shepherds went to "see this rhema" (the word having become an actual event). This prefigures the New Testament concept of seeing the living "Logos" in Jesus (Jn 1:14).
• Their simple faith contrasts with the skepticism or ignorance displayed by many of the religious elite in later accounts. The purity of heart often opens one to divine truth more readily than worldly wisdom.
• This verse contains both the reason for their going ("what the Lord made known to us") and the object of their search ("this thing which has come to pass"), framing their actions entirely within God's sovereign plan and revelation.

Luke 2 15 Commentary

Luke 2:15 provides a beautiful and pivotal moment of transition from God’s spectacular revelation to humanity's faithful response. The departure of the angels shifts the initiative to the shepherds, underscoring that while divine revelation is given freely, it demands a personal, active, and immediate human response. The shepherds, humble and seemingly inconsequential in society, display remarkable unity and prompt obedience. Their deliberation ("said one to another") signifies thoughtful consideration of the incredible news, leading to a firm resolve. Their immediate decision to "go and see" (not "go and confirm their doubts," but "go and see this thing, this reality") embodies true faith, which does not merely acknowledge but actively seeks an encounter with the divine. The urgency of "now" and the specific destination of Bethlehem highlight their belief in the angels' words and their trust in God's specific instruction. This immediate journey to behold "this thing which is come to pass" – the Word become flesh – serves as a profound example of discipleship: hear God's word, process it with fellow believers, and act decisively to encounter Christ. It implies that true knowledge of God requires proactive engagement, not passive reception.