Luke 2:17
New International Version
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

New Living Translation
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.

English Standard Version
And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

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

Berean Literal Bible
And having seen, they proclaimed abroad concerning the saying having been told them concerning this Child.

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

New King James Version
Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

New American Standard Bible
When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

NASB 1995
When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

NASB 1977
And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Legacy Standard Bible
And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.

Amplified Bible
And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child,

Christian Standard Bible
After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child,

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

Contemporary English Version
When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him.

Good News Translation
When the shepherds saw him, they told them what the angel had said about the child.

International Standard Version
When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child.

Majority Standard Bible
After they had seen the Child, they spread widely the message they had received about Him.

NET Bible
When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child,

New Heart English Bible
When they saw it, they made known the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Weymouth New Testament
And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;

World English Bible
When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the Child.

Berean Literal Bible
And having seen, they proclaimed abroad concerning the saying having been told them concerning this Child.

Young's Literal Translation
and having seen, they made known abroad concerning the saying spoken to them concerning the child.

Smith's Literal Translation
And having seen, they made known concerning the word spoken to them about the child.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, upon seeing this, they understood the word that had been spoken to them about this boy.

New American Bible
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

New Revised Standard Version
When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When they saw it, they made known the word which was spoken to them concerning the boy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And when they had seen, they made known the words that had been spoken with them about The Boy.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And after they had seen it, they made known every where the words that had been spoken to them of this child.

Godbey New Testament
And seeing, they made known concerning the word which was spoken to them about this little child.

Haweis New Testament
and when they saw it, they made a public report of the declaration delivered to them respecting this child.

Mace New Testament
when they had seen him, they divulged what the angel had told them concerning this child.

Weymouth New Testament
And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;

Worrell New Testament
And, having seen Him, they made known concerning the saying spoken to them about this Child.

Worsley New Testament
and when they had seen it, they divulged what had been told them concerning this child:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Shepherds and the Angels
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. 17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 18And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.…

Cross References
Matthew 2:17-18
Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: / “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

John 1:45
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Acts 4:20
For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:15
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

John 4:28-29
Then the woman left her water jar, went back into the town, and said to the people, / “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”

Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Romans 10:14-15
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? / And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

1 John 1:1-3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. / And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. / We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:4
Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy

Isaiah 12:4
and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.

Psalm 66:16
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me.

Isaiah 63:7
I will make known the LORD’s loving devotion and His praiseworthy acts, because of all that the LORD has done for us—the many good things for the house of Israel according to His great compassion and loving devotion.


Treasury of Scripture

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

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.

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.

Psalm 16:9,10
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope…

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Abroad Account Child Country Spread Statement Widely Word
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Abroad Account Child Country Spread Statement Widely Word
Luke 2
1. Augustus taxes all the Roman empire.
6. The nativity of Jesus.
8. An angel relates it to the shepherds, and many sing praises to God for it.
15. The shepherds glorify God.
21. Jesus is circumcised.
22. Mary purified.
25. Simeon and Anna prophesy of Jesus,
39. who increases in wisdom,
41. questions in the temple with the teachers,
51. and is obedient to his parents.














After they had seen the Child
The shepherds, who were the first to receive the angelic announcement of Jesus' birth, went to Bethlehem to see the newborn Messiah. This event fulfills the prophecy of Micah 5:2, which foretold that the ruler of Israel would come from Bethlehem. The shepherds' visit signifies the humble circumstances of Jesus' birth, aligning with the theme of God choosing the lowly and humble to reveal His glory. The shepherds' role as witnesses is significant, as shepherds were often marginalized in society, yet they were chosen to be the first evangelists of the Messiah's birth.

they spread the message
The shepherds' response to their encounter with Jesus was to share the news. This reflects the biblical principle of witnessing, as seen in Acts 1:8, where believers are called to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. The shepherds' actions demonstrate the transformative power of encountering Christ, prompting them to share the good news. This act of spreading the message is a precursor to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations.

they had received about Him
The message the shepherds received was from the angel, who announced the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). This message is central to the Gospel, emphasizing Jesus' role as Savior and Lord. The shepherds' proclamation of this message highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, such as Isaiah 9:6, which speaks of a child born to us who will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The shepherds' testimony serves as an early declaration of Jesus' identity and mission, setting the stage for His redemptive work.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Shepherds
Humble and lowly individuals who were the first to receive the angelic announcement of Jesus' birth. They represent the common people and God's outreach to all humanity.

2. Jesus (the Child)
The central figure of the Gospel, whose birth is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the hope of salvation for mankind.

3. Angels
Heavenly messengers who announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, signifying divine intervention and the importance of the event.

4. Bethlehem
The prophesied birthplace of the Messiah, fulfilling the prophecy in Micah 5:2, and the setting for the nativity account.

5. The Message
The good news of Jesus' birth, which the shepherds were entrusted to share, highlighting the role of believers as messengers of the Gospel.
Teaching Points
The Role of Witnesses
Just as the shepherds shared the news of Jesus' birth, believers today are called to be witnesses of Christ's work in their lives.

The Importance of Immediate Obedience
The shepherds did not delay in spreading the word. We should also act promptly when God calls us to share His message.

God's Use of the Humble
God chose shepherds, not kings, to announce the birth of Jesus, reminding us that God often uses the humble and lowly to accomplish His purposes.

The Power of Personal Testimony
The shepherds' testimony was based on their personal encounter with Jesus. Our personal experiences with Christ can be powerful tools for evangelism.

Joy in Sharing the Gospel
The shepherds' joy in sharing the news of Jesus' birth should inspire us to find joy in sharing the Gospel with others.(17) They made known abroad . . .--The fact must be borne in mind, as tending to the agitation which reached its height on the arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem. (See Note on Matthew 2:3.)

Verse 17. - And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child. Thus these men, at the bottom of the social scale in Israel, were chosen as the first preachers of the new-born King. Gradually the strange story got noised abroad in the city. The vision of Zacharias, the story of Mary, the two strange births, the marvellous experience of the shepherds. Following upon all this was the arrival of the Magi, and their inquiries after a new-born Messiah, whom they had been directed by no earthly voices to seek after in the neighborhood of Jerusalem. It was then that the jealous fears of Herod were in good earnest aroused, and the result was that he gave immediate directions for the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem, of which St. Matthew writes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[After]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they had seen [the Child],
ἰδόντες (idontes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

they spread
ἐγνώρισαν (egnōrisan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1107: To make known, declare, know, discover. From a derivative of ginosko; to make known; subjectively, to know.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

message
ῥήματος (rhēmatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

they had received
λαληθέντος (lalēthentos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

about
περὶ (peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

[Him].
παιδίου (paidiou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.


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NT Gospels: Luke 2:17 When they saw it they publicized widely (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 2:16
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