John Calvin 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)

They published concerning the word. Luke mentions, commending the shepherds' faith, that they honestly delivered to others what they had received from the Lord. It was advantageous to all of us that they should attest to this and be a kind of secondary angels in confirming our faith.

Luke also shows that, in publishing what they had heard, they were not without success.¹⁶⁸ Nor can it be doubted that the Lord gave effectiveness to what they said, so that it might not be ridiculed or despised. For the men's low rank diminished their credibility, and the event itself might have been regarded as unbelievable. But the Lord, who gave them this task, does not allow it to be fruitless.

That the Lord should adopt such a method—employing humble men to publish His Word—may not be entirely agreeable to the human mind. But it tends to humble the pride of the flesh and to test the obedience of faith; therefore, God approves of it. Still, though all are astonished, no one takes a step to come to Christ. From this we may infer that the impression made on them by hearing of God's power was unaccompanied by any devout affection of the heart. The purpose of publishing this report was not so much for their salvation as to make the ignorance of all the people inexcusable.

¹⁶⁸ “Ils n'ont pas perdu leurs peines;” — “they did not lose their pains.”;” — “they did not lose their pains.”