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Luke sets the events of the gospel against the background of world history. The pagan emperor’s decree about a census created the situation in which the Messiah was born in David’s city of Bethlehem. Matthew records the recognition of Jesus by Magi, men of high reputation and standing. But Luke describes the visit of shepherds, people of low esteem, to the manger where Jesus lay. The angel’s song (v.14), according to many manuscripts, was “peace on earth, goodwill to men”; but the NIV translation, “on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests,” follows the earliest and most reliable manuscripts. Jesus did not bring political peace to the world, but he made it possible for men and women to have peace with God. Charles Wesley (1:183) interprets the message as “Peace on earth and mercy mild, / God and sinners reconciled.”