“Then an angel
Of the Lord
Appeared before them.
The glory
Of the Lord
Shone around them.
They were terrified.”
καὶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς καὶ δόξα Κυρίου περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν.
Luke once again introduced an angel, but an unnamed angel, into the scene as an angelic messenger from God. Luke said that an angel of the Lord (καὶ ἄγγελος Κυρίου) appeared or stood before them (ἐπέστη αὐτοῖς). The glory of the Lord (καὶ δόξα Κυρίου) shone around them (περιέλαμψεν αὐτούς). However, the shepherds were terrified with a great fear (καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν φόβον μέγαν), and rightfully so. Out of nowhere, this angel with a bright light was there before them. This glory of the Lord could be understood as perhaps the presence of God himself.
