Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 2:17

"And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child." — Luke 2:17 (ASV)

Then they “spread the word” and became the first evangelists of the Christian era. Luke’s observation that those who heard them “were amazed” is the first of his many comments on the enthusiastic response to the messianic proclamation (see vv.33, 47; 4:22; 8:25; et al.).