Luke 2:17-18

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 17^th/18^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What they do with their witness is to “spread the word” not only of what they saw, but of the heaven-sent interpretation of the event.

The Greek word for “spread (NIV)” is gnōrizō, the common word for “make known, disclose, or know.” What they offer to their audience is an explanation of what happened so that others might discover and become acquainted with the witnessed events. Because the appearance of the angels and the encounter with Jesus are of such an unusual nature, the shepherds must go beyond the simple reporting of their experience to the relating of their experience. As it stood, their audience was “amazed” at what the shepherds told them. Here we have the common Greek verb thaumazō which has to do with “wonder or marvel,” the sort of response that leaves a person standing there looking at something for a long time.

 
Persons who meet Jesus through the testimony of others have much to think about and much to wonder about. They will not necessarily accept the testimony on the spot, but will require time to look at and take it all in. Such was the response of both the shepherds and those who heard their witness.[BN, 3]

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