Lukas 2:7-12

2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth ¹  and laid him in a manger, ²  because there was no place for them in the inn. ³ 

The Shepherds’ Visit

2:8 Now ⁴  there were shepherds ⁵  nearby ⁶  living out in the field, keeping guard ⁷  over their flock at night. 2:9 An ⁸  angel of the Lord ⁹  appeared to ¹⁰  them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. ¹¹  2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, ¹²  for I proclaim to you good news ¹³  that brings great joy to all the people: 2:11 Today ¹⁴  your Savior is born in the city ¹⁵  of David. ¹⁶  He is Christ ¹⁷  the Lord. 2:12 This ¹⁸  will be a sign ¹⁹  for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” ²⁰ 

Lukas 4:22

4:22 All ²¹  were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They ²²  said, “Isn’t this ²³  Joseph’s son?”

[2:7]  ¹ sn The strips of cloth (traditionally, “swaddling cloths”) were strips of linen that would be wrapped around the arms and legs of an infant to keep the limbs protected.

[2:7]  ² tn Or “a feeding trough.”

[2:7]  ³ tn The Greek word κατάλυμα is flexible, and usage in the LXX and NT refers to a variety of places for lodging (see BDAG 521 s.v.). Most likely Joseph and Mary sought lodging in the public accommodations in the city of Bethlehem (see J. Nolland, Luke [WBC], 1:105), which would have been crude shelters for people and animals. However, it has been suggested by various scholars that Joseph and Mary were staying with relatives in Bethlehem (e.g., C. S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 194; B. Witherington, “Birth of Jesus,” DJG, 69-70); if that were so the term would refer to the guest room in the relatives’ house, which would have been filled beyond capacity with all the other relatives who had to journey to Bethlehem for the census.

[2:7]  sn There was no place for them in the inn. There is no drama in how this is told. There is no search for a variety of places to stay or a heartless innkeeper. (Such items are later, nonbiblical embellishments.) Bethlehem was not large and there was simply no other place to stay. The humble surroundings of the birth are ironic in view of the birth’s significance.

[2:8]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[2:8]  ⁵ sn Some argue that shepherds were among the culturally despised, but the evidence for this view of shepherds is late, coming from 5th century Jewish materials. December 25 as the celebrated date of Jesus’ birth arose around the time of Constantine (ca. a.d. 306-337), though it is mentioned in material from Hippolytus (a.d. 165-235). Some think that the reason for celebration on this date was that it coincided with the pagan Roman festival of Saturnalia, and Christians could celebrate their own festival at this time without fear of persecution. On the basis of the statement that the shepherds were living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night it is often suggested that Jesus’ birth took place in early spring, since it was only at lambing time that shepherds stood guard over their flocks in the field. This is not absolutely certain, however.

[2:8]  ⁶ tn Grk “in that region.”

[2:8]  ⁷ tn Grk “living in the field (see BDAG 15 s.v. ἀγραυλέω) and guarding their flock.”

[2:9]  ⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:9]  ⁹ tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:11.

[2:9]  ¹⁰ tn Or “stood in front of.”

[2:9]  ¹¹ tn Grk “they feared a great fear” (a Semitic idiom which intensifies the main idea, in this case their fear).

[2:9]  sn Terrified. See similar responses in Luke 1:12, 29.

[2:10]  ¹² tn Grk “behold.”

[2:10]  ¹³ tn Grk “I evangelize to you great joy.”

[2:11]  ¹⁴ sn The Greek word for today (σήμερον, shmeron) occurs eleven times in the Gospel of Luke (2:11; 4:21; 5:26; 12:28; 13:32-33; 19:5, 9; 22:34, 61; 23:43) and nine times in Acts. Its use, especially in passages such as 2:11, 4:21, 5:26; 19:5, 9, signifies the dawning of the era of messianic salvation and the fulfillment of the plan of God. Not only does it underscore the idea of present fulfillment in Jesus’ ministry, but it also indicates salvific fulfillment present in the church (cf. Acts 1:6; 3:18; D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 1:412; I. H. Marshall, Luke, [NIGTC], 873).

[2:11]  ¹⁵ tn Or “town.” See the note on “city” in v. 4.

[2:11]  ¹⁶ tn This is another indication of a royal, messianic connection.

[2:11]  ¹⁷ tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”

[2:11]  sn The term χριστός (cristos) was originally an adjective (“anointed”), developing in LXX into a substantive (“an anointed one”), then developing still further into a technical generic term (“the anointed one”). In the intertestamental period it developed further into a technical term referring to the hoped-for anointed one, that is, a specific individual. In the NT the development starts there (technical-specific), is so used in the gospels, and then develops in Paul to mean virtually Jesus’ last name.

[2:12]  ¹⁸ tn Grk “And this.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[2:12]  ¹⁹ sn The sign functions for the shepherds like Elizabeth’s conception served for Mary in 1:36.

[2:12]  ²⁰ tn Or “a feeding trough,” see Luke 2:7.

[4:22]  ²¹ tn Grk “And all.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:22]  ²² tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:22]  ²³ sn The form of the question assumes a positive reply. It really amounts to an objection, as Jesus’ response in the next verses shows. Jesus spoke smoothly and impressively. He made a wonderful declaration, but could a local carpenter’s son make such an offer? That was their real question.