Bible Verses About Angels

“Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

Angels are called ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. Their work is service, and it is directed toward people.

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. ” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail. ” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.”

Gabriel brings Mary astonishing news that she will bear a son. Her honest questions are answered, and she responds in humble trust.

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.””

An angel wakes Peter in prison, his chains fall away and the gates open for him. When he comes to himself he recognizes that the Lord rescued him.

“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

The psalm says God commands his angels to guard those who trust him. Readers take this as comfort about God's care, not a promise that believers will never be hurt.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

The writer urges hospitality to strangers, because some have welcomed angels without knowing it. Kindness to the unknown guest carries more weight than it seems.

“Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.”

After the temptation in the wilderness, angels come and serve Jesus. Even in his weakness the Son is attended by heaven.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.”

Isaiah sees the Lord enthroned, with winged seraphim calling out to one another about his holiness. The scene leaves the prophet overwhelmed and aware of his own need.

“Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!””

John hears countless angels around the throne praising the Lamb. Heaven's worship is pictured as vast, joyful and centered on Christ.

“And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!””

Angels announce Jesus' birth to shepherds at night, and a crowd of them praises God. The first audience for the good news is a group of ordinary workers.

“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.””

Jesus says there is joy among God's angels over one sinner who repents. Heaven pays attention to a single changed life.

“Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command. Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.”

The psalmist calls the angels to bless the Lord, who are strong and obey his word. Their obedience is offered as a model for us.

“See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.”

Jesus says the angels of little ones always see the face of his Father. Some Christians understand this as a guardian angel for each person, while others read it more generally about heaven's care for the vulnerable.

“Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.”

Paul warns against a false humility that leads people into worshiping angels. Honoring God's servants must never replace worshiping God.

“And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!””

John falls down to worship the angel who showed him these things, and the angel stops him at once. Worship belongs to God alone.