Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 2:10

"And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:" — Luke 2:10 (ASV)

Fear not. It is worth noting that this is almost the normal accompaniment of the angelic manifestations in the Gospel (Matthew 28:5–10; Luke 1:13; Luke 1:30). They were intended to lessen, not to increase the dread which people feel on being brought into contact with the supernatural world.

I bring you good tidings. The verb is formed from the word for glad tidings, which we translate as “gospel”—i.e., good spell, good news.

Which shall be to all people. Better, to all the people. The words point, in the first instance, to the joy which shall be for Israel as God’s “people,” and as such distinguished from the other “nations” of the world .