Luke 2:17

And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And {G1161} when they had seen {G1492} it, they made known abroad {G1232} the saying {G4012}{G4487} which {G3588} was told {G2980} them {G846} concerning {G4012} this {G5127} child {G3813}.

Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child;

After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.

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

Commentary

Luke 2:17 describes the immediate and profound response of the shepherds after their visit to Bethlehem. Having found the newborn Jesus, just as the angel had announced, they didn't keep the miraculous event to themselves but actively shared what they had witnessed.

Context

This verse follows the dramatic angelic announcement to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem (Luke 2:10-12), revealing the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. After receiving this heavenly message and seeing the heavenly host praising God (Luke 2:13-14), the shepherds eagerly went to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger (Luke 2:16). Verse 17 marks their transition from recipients of revelation to active proclaimers of the good news.

Key Themes

  • Witness and Testimony: The shepherds became the first human witnesses to the fulfillment of the prophetic word concerning the Messiah's birth. Their "seeing it" confirmed the angelic message, making their subsequent proclamation powerful and credible.
  • Proclamation and Evangelism: The phrase "made known abroad" signifies their immediate and widespread sharing of the incredible news. They didn't wait or hesitate but became spontaneous evangelists, spreading the "saying which was told them concerning this child" throughout the region. This highlights the contagious nature of good news, especially news of divine origin.
  • Divine Revelation and Human Response: God chose humble, ordinary shepherds to be the first to receive and then disseminate the glorious news of Jesus' arrival. Their enthusiastic response demonstrates a heart receptive to God's revelation and eager to share it with others.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "made known abroad" translates the Greek word gnōrizō (γνωρί΢ω), which means to make known, to declare, to reveal, or to cause to know. It implies a public and active declaration, not just a quiet whisper. This emphasizes the shepherds' bold and open sharing of their experience, contributing to the early spread of the news about the birth of Jesus. It wasn't a passive relay of information but an active proclamation of a life-changing event.

Practical Application

The shepherds' response in Luke 2:17 serves as a powerful model for believers today. Just as they, upon seeing and believing, immediately "made known abroad" the good news of Jesus, so too are Christians called to share their personal testimony and the message of salvation with others. Their actions demonstrate that:

  • Authentic encounters with Christ lead to proclamation: When we truly experience Jesus, we are compelled to share.
  • God uses ordinary people: The shepherds were not priests or scholars, yet they were chosen to spread the initial word about the Savior. This encourages every believer to participate in sharing the Gospel.
  • The urgency of the message: The shepherds' immediate action highlights the importance of sharing the good news without delay, echoing the spirit of the Great Commission to go and make disciples.
Their joy and obedience set an example for all who encounter the living Christ.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 8:39

    Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

  • Psalms 66:16

    Come [and] hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

  • Psalms 71:17

    O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

  • Psalms 71:18

    Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto [this] generation, [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come.

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

  • Luke 2:38

    And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 16:9

    Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.