And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While "to all people" might seem to mean everyone on Earth right away, the angel is speaking to Israelites. So, this "all people" initially refers to the entirety of God's chosen people, Israel, from whom the Savior would first be offered before extending to the whole world. This subtle emphasis highlights the specific context of the announcement while foreshadowing its global reach.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
A heavenly host has just burst into song with an announcement of peace and glory, leaving a group of shepherds in the fields absolutely stunned and terrified. The angel’s immediate response is to calm their fear, explaining that this isn't a message of doom but of incredible joy. This good news is first and foremost for "all the people," a phrase understood by the shepherds to mean their own nation, Israel, though its implications would soon unfold to encompass the entire world.
Angels showing up can be terrifying! Why did the angel immediately address the shepherds' fear, and how does this relate to the message of joy?
A Normal Reaction to the Supernatural
It’s natural to feel fear when encountering the supernatural. The appearance of an angel, blazing with divine glory, would be overwhelming. So, the angel’s first words, “Fear not,” are a crucial part of the message. They aren't just a polite greeting; they are an assurance that God’s presence, even in such a dramatic form, is not meant to terrify but to bring blessing.
The Core of the Good News
The angel immediately contrasts fear with "good news of great joy." This isn't just a bit of good news; it's the best news. The very reason for the fear to be dispelled is the arrival of this extraordinary joy. This joy isn't dependent on circumstances, but on the reality of what has just been born in Bethlehem. It’s a joy rooted in God’s initiative and His profound love for humanity.
The angel declared this joy is 'to all the people.' What does this mean, and who is included?
First to Israel, Then to All
The phrase "to all the people" initially refers specifically to the people of Israel. The angel is speaking to Jewish shepherds, announcing the fulfillment of promises made to their nation. This baby, Jesus, is their promised Messiah, their Savior, their King.
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The Wider Scope of God's Plan
However, the significance of this birth immediately broadens. While the immediate recipients of the announcement are the Israelites, the scope of the joy extends far beyond them. This good news is ultimately for all humanity. It's a message that will eventually be shared with Gentiles, fulfilling God's plan to bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Even though this wider reach wasn't fully understood at the time, the angel's words contain this expansive promise.
Understand the original words
euangelizomai · Greek Verb
To announce or proclaim the Gospel (good news); it refers to the message of salvation and the inauguration of God's kingdom through Jesus Christ.
chara · Greek Noun
A deep, abiding sense of gladness and delight that comes from God's presence, deliverance, and the realization of His promises.
The angel's message, while directly spoken to Jewish shepherds, points to a salvation intended not just for Israel, but ultimately for all people, bridging the gap between the Old Covenant and the coming New Covenant.
c. 6 BC— this verse
Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem
Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem in Judea for a census ordered by Emperor Augustus. This journey sets the stage for Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, as foretold by prophecy.
c. 6 BC
Jesus Christ is Born
The Messiah, Jesus Christ, is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecies that he would come from the line of David and be born in David's ancestral town. He is laid in a manger due to a lack of room in the local inn.
c. 6 BC
Angelic Announcement to Shepherds
An angel of the Lord appears to shepherds tending their flocks near Bethlehem, announcing the birth of the Savior and King. This event marks the first public proclamation of Jesus' birth.
c. 6 BC
Heavenly Host Praises God
A multitude of angels appears with the first angel, praising God with the words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" This celestial choir amplifies the joyous news.
c. 6 BC
Shepherds Visit Jesus
The shepherds hurry to Bethlehem and find Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in a manger, just as the angel described. They spread the news of what they had seen and heard.
c. 2 BC - AD 30
Jesus' Early Life and Ministry
Jesus grows up in Nazareth, later begins his public ministry of teaching, healing, and calling disciples, eventually leading to his crucifixion and resurrection.
This Old Testament prophecy describes the coming Child as a 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,' echoing the immense significance of the Savior announced to the shepherds.
Matthew 1:21This verse directly states the purpose of Jesus' birth: 'she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins,' aligning with the angel's message of a 'Savior' bringing 'great joy'.
Luke 1:19The angel Gabriel, who appears here, previously announced extraordinary births and affirmed his message came directly from God, lending authority to his declaration of 'good news of great joy'.
John 3:16This foundational verse emphasizes that God's love led Him to give His 'only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,' mirroring the angel's declaration that the joy of this birth is 'for all the people'.
Revelation 7:10This passage from the end of the Bible describes the multitude in heaven crying out with a 'loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”', showing the eternal and universal scope of the joy that began with Jesus' birth.
cambridgeLuke 2:10: "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
10 . good tidings ] the rendering of the verb euangelizomai (see on Luke 1:19 ). of great joy ] See Isaiah 52:7 ; Isaiah 61:1 ; Romans 5:11 ; 1 Peter 1:8 . The contrast of the condition of despair and sorrow into which the heathen world had sunk and the joy of Christians even in the deepest adversity—as when we find “ joy ” to be the key-note of the letter writt…
jfbLuke 2:10: "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
- to all people—"to the whole people," that is, of Israel; to be by them afterwards opened up to the whole world. (See on [1540]Lu 2:14).
While "to all people" might seem to mean everyone on Earth right away, the angel is speaking to Israelites. So, this "all people" initially refers to the entirety of God's chosen people, Israel, from whom the Savior would first be offered before extending to the whole world. This subtle emphasis highlights the specific context of the announcement while foreshadowing its global reach.
A heavenly host has just burst into song with an announcement of peace and glory, leaving a group of shepherds in the fields absolutely stunned and terrified. The angel’s immediate response is to calm their fear, explaining that this isn't a message of doom but of incredible joy. This good news is first and foremost for "all the people," a phrase understood by the shepherds to mean their own nation, Israel, though its implications would soon unfold to encompass the entire world.
A heavenly host has just burst into song with an announcement of peace and glory, leaving a group of shepherds in the fields absolutely stunned and terrified. The angel’s immediate response is to calm their fear, explaining that this isn't a message of doom but of incredible joy. This good news is first and foremost for "all the people," a phrase understood by the shepherds to mean their own nation, Israel, though its implications would soon unfold to encompass the entire world.
"And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." — While "to all people" might seem to mean everyone on Earth right away, the angel is speaking to Israelites. So, this "all people" initially refers to the entirety of God's chosen people, Israel, from…
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Last reviewed October 2026