Angels in the New Testament
Angels are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. Most Bible commentaries are in agreement that Angels are spiritual messengers and servants of God that are given various tasks by God. The righteous Angels are depicted as loving God and concerned with the welfare and salvation of man. They appear to have emotion, intelligence, personality, and free moral agency. At times in the Bible they assume a human physical form and we are given fascinating glimpses as to how they appear in the spiritual realm with God.
There are different categories of Angels with apparently different capabilities and gifts. The Bible speaks of them acting in a singular fashion and also in unison which implies organization and community.
Angels are mentioned by Jesus Christ and the New Testament writers. The righteous angels are deeply concerned with the salvation of men, at times they may visit with Christians according to the apostle Paul, they listen to the church in case the spirit of God unveils new spiritual truths, and they love God and will fight with Jesus Christ and the saints at their return to the planet earth.
The following are only a few of the verses with Angels in the New Testament:
An Angel tells Zacharias of the birth of his son John the Baptist and punishes him for not initially believing him. This implies decision making authority
Luke 1:1-20
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11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Angels herald the birth of Jesus Christ Luke 2:2-13
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8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Angels minister to Jesus after the trial in the wilderness
Matthew 4:6-11
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Angel rescues Peter from Prison Acts 12: 1-15
5 Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
Angels feel joy when people repent Luke 15:10
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents
Angels do not know everything Matthew 24:36
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father.
Angels learn from the church Ephesians 3:10-11
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Angels visit the church Hebrews 13:2
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.