Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
1At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order to all people in the countries that were under Roman rule. The order said that they must list their names in a register. 2This was the first registration# Census. A counting of all the people and the things they own. taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And everyone went to their own towns to be registered.
4So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. This town was known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. 5Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (Mary was now pregnant.) 6While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. 7She gave birth to her first son. There were no rooms left in the inn. So she wrapped the baby with cloths and laid him in a box where animals are fed.
Some Shepherds Hear About Jesus
8That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. 9An angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and suddenly they became very frightened. 10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people. 11Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is Christ, the Lord. 12This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding box.”
13Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel. All the angels were praising God, saying:
14“Give glory to God in heaven,
and on earth let there be peace to the people who please God.”# Some Greek copies read “and on earth let there be peace and goodwill among people.”
15Then the angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. We will see this thing the Lord told us about.”
16So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph. 17And the shepherds saw the baby lying in a feeding box. Then they told what the angels had said about this child. 18Everyone was amazed when they heard what the shepherds said to them. 19Mary hid these things in her heart; she continued to think about them. 20Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything that they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.
21When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This name had been given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure.# The law of Moses said that 40 days after a Jewish woman gave birth to a baby, she must be cleansed by a ceremony at the Temple. Read Leviticus 12:2–8. They took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23It is written in the law of the Lord: “Give every firstborn male to the Lord.”# Quotation from Exodus 13:2. 24Mary and Joseph also went to offer a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord says: “You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.”# Quotation from Leviticus 12:8.
Simeon Sees Jesus
25A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was a good man and very religious. He was waiting for the time when God would help Israel. The Holy Spirit was in him. 26The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. 27The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do. 28Then Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
29“Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant,
die in peace as you said.
30I have seen your Salvation# Simeon was talking about Jesus. The name Jesus means “salvation.” with my own eyes.
31You prepared him before all people.
32He is a light for the non-Jewish people to see.
He will bring honor to your people, the Israelites.”
33Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon had said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “Many in Israel will fall and many will rise because of this child. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept. 35The things they think in secret will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too.”
Anna Sees Jesus
36Anna, a prophetess, was there at the Temple. She was from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years. 37Then her husband died and she lived alone. She was now 84 years old. Anna never left the Temple. She worshiped God by going without food and praying day and night. 38She was standing there at that time, thanking God. She talked about Jesus to all who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.
Joseph and Mary Return Home
39Joseph and Mary finished doing everything that the law of the Lord commanded. Then they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee. 40The little child began to grow up. He became stronger and wiser, and God’s blessings were with him.
Jesus As a Boy
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. 42When Jesus was 12 years old, they went to the feast as they always did. 43When the feast days were over, they went home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Joseph and Mary traveled for a whole day. They thought that Jesus was with them in the group. Then they began to look for him among their family and friends, 45but they did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there. 46After three days they found him. Jesus was sitting in the Temple with the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and wise answers. 48When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, “Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been looking for you.”
49Jesus asked, “Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be where my Father’s work is!” 50But they did not understand the meaning of what he said.
51Jesus went with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. His mother was still thinking about all that had happened. 52Jesus continued to learn more and more and to grow physically. People liked him, and he pleased God.
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Luke 2: ICB
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Luke 2
2
1 And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, so that the whole world would be enrolled.
2 This was the first enrollment; it was made by the ruler of Syria, Quirinius.
3 And all went to be declared, each one to his own city.
4 Then Joseph also ascended from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 in order to be declared, with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
6 Then it happened that, while they were there, the days were completed, so that she would give birth.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son. And she wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them at the inn.
8 And there were shepherds in the same region, being vigilant and keeping watch in the night over their flock.
9 And behold, an Angel of the Lord stood near them, and the brightness of God shone around them, and they were struck with a great fear.
10 And the Angel said to them: "Do not be afraid. For, behold, I proclaim to you a great joy, which will be for all the people.
11 For today a Saviour has been born for you in the city of David: he is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the celestial army, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."
15 And it happened that, when the Angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us cross over to Bethlehem and see this word, which has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us."
16 And they went quickly. And they found Mary and Joseph; and the infant was lying in a manger.
17 Then, upon seeing this, they understood the word that had been spoken to them about this boy.
18 And all who heard it were amazed by this, and by those things which were told to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told to them.
21 And after eight days were ended, so that the boy would be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, just as he was called by the Angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And after the days of her purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem, in order to present him to the Lord,
23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "For every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,"
24 and in order to offer a sacrifice, according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and God-fearing, awaiting the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was with him.
26 And he had received an answer from the Holy Spirit: that he would not see his own death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
27 And he went with the Spirit to the temple. And when the child Jesus was brought in by his parents, in order to act on his behalf according to the custom of the law,
28 he also took him up, into his arms, and he blessed God and said:
29 "Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples:
32 the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."
33 And his father and mother were wondering over these things, which were spoken about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and he said to his mother Mary: "Behold, this one has been set for the ruin and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and as a sign which will be contradicted.
35 And a sword will pass through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years, and she had lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity.
37 And then she was a widow, even to her eighty-fourth year. And without departing from the temple, she was a servant to fasting and prayer, night and day.
38 And entering at the same hour, she confessed to the Lord. And she spoke about him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel.
39 And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth.
40 Now the child grew, and he was strengthened with the fullness of wisdom. And the grace of God was in him.
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the time of the solemnity of Passover.
42 And when he had become twelve years old, they ascended to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast day.
43 And having completed the days, when they returned, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents did not realize this.
44 But, supposing that he was in the company, they went a day's journey, seeking him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it happened that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and questioning them.
47 But all who listened to him were astonished over his prudence and his responses.
48 And upon seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: "Son, why have you acted this way toward us? Behold, your father and I were seeking you in sorrow."
49 And he said to them: "How is it that you were seeking me? For did you not know that it is necessary for me to be in these things which are of my Father?"
50 And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them.
51 And he descended with them and went to Nazareth. And he was subordinate to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and in age, and in grace, with God and men.
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