Which gospel contains the nativity narrative featuring shepherds and angels?

• A. Matthew
• B. Mark
• C. Luke
• D. John

Answer: (C)

The story that pairs shepherds with angels in the birth narrative is found in the Gospel of Luke. Luke centers the nativity scene around humble, ordinary people receiving the good news. In Luke 2:8-14, shepherds in the fields near Bethlehem are visited by an angel who proclaims the birth of a Savior and directs them to find the newborn Jesus. A chorus of angels then rejoices, praising God, and the shepherds go to Bethlehem to see the child and then share what they’ve heard.

This emphasis on shepherds and heavenly proclamation distinguishes Luke’s account from the others. In Matthew, the birth story highlights a different angle, focusing on the royal recognition from the Magi and events surrounding King Herod. Mark opens with John the Baptist and Jesus’ public ministry, not a nativity narrative. John starts with a theological prologue about the Word becoming flesh, rather than a birth scene. So the shepherds-and-angels nativity is uniquely Luke’s contribution, reflecting his themes of humility, accessibility of the gospel to ordinary people, and the outward proclamation of Jesus’ birth to the world.