Luke 2
2
The birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while#2:2 Or This census took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
13Suddenly 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 favour rests.’
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus presented in the temple
22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’#2:23 Exodus 13:2,12), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’.#2:24 Lev. 12:8
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss#2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.’
33The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.#2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
The boy Jesus at the temple
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’
49 ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’#2:49 Or be about my Father’s business 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Currently Selected:
Luke 2: NIVUK
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Luke 2
2
1It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman Empire. 2This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria. 3So everybody went to their own city to be registered. 4Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea. 5He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby. 6While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby. 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left.
8Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were scared out of their wits!
10“Don't be afraid!” the angel told them. “I'm here to bring you good news that will make the all the people really glad. 11The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
14“Glory to the God of heaven, and on earth peace to those who please him!”
15After the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what's happened concerning these things the Lord has told us about.”
16They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby. 18All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them. 20The shepherds went back to watching their flocks, glorifying and thanking God for all that they'd heard and seen, for it was just as they'd been told.
21After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even been conceived. 22When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses was finished, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”#2:23. Quoting Exodus 13:2. 24There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”#2:24. Quoting Leviticus 12:8.
25Living in Jerusalem at that time was a man called Simeon. Simeon did what was good and was very devout. He was waiting expectantly for the hope of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.#2:26. Or “Christ.” 27Following the Spirit's leading, he went to the Temple. When Jesus' parents brought in the little boy to be dedicated as required by the Law, 28Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
29“Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised, 30because I have seen for myself your salvation 31which you have prepared for everyone. 32He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.” 33Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus' mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject, 35revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right through you.”
36Anna the prophetess also lived in Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. She had been married for seven years, 37and then she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, fasting and praying. 38She came up to them right at that moment, and began praising God. She spoke about Jesus to all those who were looking forward to the time when God would set Jerusalem free.
39Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee. 40The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
41Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival. 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did. 43When the festival had finished and it was time to return home, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't realize this. 44They assumed he was with all the others traveling home. A day passed before they started looking for him among their friends and relatives. 45When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there. 46It was three days before they found him in the Temple. He was sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
48His parents were totally confused when they saw what he was doing. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I—we've been worried sick! We've been looking everywhere for you!”
49“Why is it that you were looking for me?” Jesus replied. “Didn't you know I should be here in my Father's house?” 50But they didn't understand what he meant. 51Then he went back with them to Nazareth, and did what he was told. His mother kept a careful note of everything that happened. 52Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com