Luke 2:18, "All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds," is a reaction to the shepherds' story about their encounter with angels. Let's break it down:
"All who heard it..." This refers to the people the shepherds told about their experience. We can assume this was likely a local group of people, possibly other shepherds or people in the village near Bethlehem.
"...wondered..." The word "wondered" implies a mixture of feelings: amazement, astonishment, perhaps even a bit of awe and disbelief. It suggests they were taken aback and perhaps even confused by what they heard. They were struck by the unusual and extraordinary nature of the shepherds' account.
"...at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds." This refers to the content of the shepherds' story. They were telling about:
The appearance of the angels.
The glorious host of angels praising God.
The message that the Messiah, the Savior, had been born in Bethlehem.
The instructions to find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
In essence, the verse means that the people who heard the shepherds' story were amazed, intrigued, and perhaps a little bewildered by the extraordinary things the shepherds recounted about their angelic encounter and the birth of the Messiah.
Here are some further points to consider about the verse:
Humility of the Messengers: The fact that God chose shepherds, who were often considered social outcasts, to be the first witnesses and proclaimers of the Messiah's birth is significant.
The Power of Testimony: This verse highlights the power of personal testimony. The shepherds' firsthand experience had a powerful impact on those who heard it.
The Spark of Faith: The "wonder" may have been the first seed of faith planted in the hearts of these listeners. It prepared them to consider the possibility that something truly extraordinary had occurred.
The reaction of "wonder" is a natural human response to the supernatural and the unexpected. It suggests that the shepherds' story was so compelling and unusual that it captured the attention and imagination of those who heard it.
Luke 2:18, "All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds," is a reaction to the shepherds' story about their encounter with angels. Let's break it down:
"All who heard it..." This refers to the people the shepherds told about their experience. We can assume this was likely a local group of people, possibly other shepherds or people in the village near Bethlehem.
"...wondered..." The word "wondered" implies a mixture of feelings: amazement, astonishment, perhaps even a bit of awe and disbelief. It suggests they were taken aback and perhaps even confused by what they heard. They were struck by the unusual and extraordinary nature of the shepherds' account.
"...at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds." This refers to the content of the shepherds' story. They were telling about:
The appearance of the angels.
The glorious host of angels praising God.
The message that the Messiah, the Savior, had been born in Bethlehem.
The instructions to find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
In essence, the verse means that the people who heard the shepherds' story were amazed, intrigued, and perhaps a little bewildered by the extraordinary things the shepherds recounted about their angelic encounter and the birth of the Messiah.
Here are some further points to consider about the verse:
Humility of the Messengers: The fact that God chose shepherds, who were often considered social outcasts, to be the first witnesses and proclaimers of the Messiah's birth is significant.
The Power of Testimony: This verse highlights the power of personal testimony. The shepherds' firsthand experience had a powerful impact on those who heard it.
The Spark of Faith: The "wonder" may have been the first seed of faith planted in the hearts of these listeners. It prepared them to consider the possibility that something truly extraordinary had occurred.
The reaction of "wonder" is a natural human response to the supernatural and the unexpected. It suggests that the shepherds' story was so compelling and unusual that it captured the attention and imagination of those who heard it.