---
title: Luke 2:13
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/luke-2-13/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/luke-2-13.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Luke 2:13
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Luke 2:13

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying:"

## JW Usage

Witnesses accept the nativity account as true history while declining to celebrate it, on the grounds that the Bible nowhere commands marking Jesus' birth, that the date is unknown, and that the customs attached to Christmas have pagan roots. The angelic praise here is not taken as authorising any commemoration.

## Protestant Usage

Two things to say, and the first should be a concession. Nobody knows the date, and Scripture does not command an annual observance. A Christian who keeps Christmas is not obeying a command and should not pretend otherwise. Saying that plainly removes an argument the Witness has prepared for. The second is what heaven did. A multitude of the heavenly army appeared to announce and praise. The incarnation was marked in the sky, by angels, with joy — which makes it hard to argue that rejoicing over it is inherently improper. Then the principle: Paul says at Romans 14:5-6, in the NWT, that one man judges one day above another and another judges all days alike, and each should be fully convinced in his own mind — with the one who observes the day observing it to Jehovah. And Colossians 2:16 forbids letting anyone judge you over the observance of a festival. So the disagreement is not really about a date. It is about whether a believer may be judged for keeping one, and Paul has already ruled. Compare Luke 2:28, Matthew 2:10, Esther 9:27.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Holidays Are Not Pagan — Read Jeremiah 10 to Verse 5](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/holidays-pagan-origin-engagement.md) — Romans 14:5-6 / Colossians 2:16-17 / Jeremiah 10:5 [Practice]