What do we know about the shepherds at the first Christmas?

We know a few things about the shepherds at the first Christmas.

They were near Bethlehem. The shepherds were “in the same country” where Christ’s birth took place (Luke 2:8). And they were able to reach Bethlehem on foot while He was still there (see Luke 2:15–16).

They were doing their duty. These shepherds were “abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). They were good and faithful shepherds, like the Savior—the Good Shepherd (see John 10:11, 14).

They knew the prophecies of the Messiah. They apparently knew what the angel was talking about when he announced the birth of “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11), the Messiah prophesied of old.

They had great zeal. When the angel told them about the “babe … lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12), they went “with haste” to see Him (Luke 2:16).

They shared the good news. They “made known abroad” what they had heard and seen regarding the angel’s message about Christ’s birth (Luke 2:17).

They thanked and praised God. After all of this, they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20).