Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus#Mt 22:17; Lk 3:1 that the whole empire#2:1 Or the whole inhabited world should be registered. 2This first registration took place while#2:2 Or This registration was the first while, or This registration was before Quirinius was governing Syria.#Mt 4:24 3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth#Mt 2:23; 4:13; 21:11; Jn 1:45 in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,#Gn 35:19; 48:7; Jos 19:15; Jdg 12:10; 17:7–9; Ru 1:1; 1Sm 16:1; Mc 5:2 because he was of the house and family line of David,#Lk 1:27 5to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him#2:5 Lit betrothed and was pregnant. 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger,#2:7 Or feeding trough, also in vv. 12,16 because there was no guest room available for them.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9Then an angel of the Lord#Mt 1:20; 2:13,19; 28:2; Lk 1:11; Ac 5:19; 8:26; 12:7; 12:23 stood before them,#Lk 24:4; Ac 12:7 and the glory of the Lord#Ex 24:16; 40:34–35; Lv 9:6,23; Nm 20:6; 1Kg 8:11; Is 35:2; 40:5; 60:1 shone around them, and they were terrified.#2:9 Lit they feared a great fear 10But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid,#Mt 14:27 for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:#2:10 Or the whole nation 11Today in the city of David a Savior#Mt 1:21; Jn 4:42; Ac 5:31 was born for you, who is the Messiah,#Mt 1:16; 16:16,20; Jn 11:27 the Lord.#Lk 1:43; Ac 2:36; 10:36 12This will be the sign for you:#1Sm 2:34; 2Kg 19:29; 20:8–9; Is 7:11,14 You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host#2:13 Lit heavenly army with the angel, praising God and saying:
14Glory to God in the highest heaven,#Mt 21:9; Lk 19:38
and peace on earth#Lk 12:51 to people he favors!#2:14 Other mss read earth good will to people#2:14 Or earth to men of good will#Lk 3:22; Eph 1:9; Php 2:13
15When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed#Lk 1:63; 2:33; 4:22; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14,38; 20:26; 24:12,41 at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart#Lk 2:51 and meditating on them. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God#Mt 9:8 for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus
21When the eight days were completed for his circumcision,#Lk 1:59 he was named Jesus#Lk 1:31 — the name given by the angel before he was conceived. 22And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,#Lv 12:6–8 they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated#2:23 Lit be called holy to the Lord#2:23Ex 13:2,12#Ex 11:5; 12:12,29; 13:2,12; 34:19; Dt 15:19) 24and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons#2:24Lv 5:11; 12:8#Lv 5:11; 12:8).
Simeon’s Prophetic Praise
25There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,#Lk 1:6 looking forward to Israel’s consolation,#Ps 135:14; Is 40:1–2,11; 49:10,13; 51:3,12; 57:18; 61:2; 66:13; Jr 31:9; Mk 15:43; Lk 2:38; 23:51 and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit#Mt 2:12 that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.#Ps 89:48; Jn 8:51; Heb 11:5 27Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,
29Now, Master,
you can dismiss your servant in peace,
as you promised.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation.#Ps 119:166,174; Is 52:10; Lk 3:6
31You have prepared it
in the presence of all peoples —
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles#2:32 Or the nations#Is 42:6; 49:6,9; Ac 13:47; 26:23
and glory to your people Israel.#Is 46:13 LXX
33His father and mother#2:33 Other mss read But Joseph and his mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel#Mt 21:44; 1Co 1:23; 2Co 2:16; 1Pt 2:8 and to be a sign that will be opposed#2:34 Or spoken against — 35and a sword will pierce your own soul — that the thoughts#2:35 Or schemes of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna’s Testimony
36There was also a prophetess,#Lk 2:38; Ac 21:9 Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.#Jos 19:24 She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,#2:36 Lit years from her virginity#1Tm 5:9 37and was a widow for eighty-four years.#2:37 Or she was a widow until the age of eighty-four She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.#Lk 5:33; Ac 13:3; 14:23; 1Tm 5:5 38At that very moment,#2:38 Lit very hour she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.#2:38 Other mss read in Jerusalem#Is 52:9; Lk 1:68; 2:25
The Family’s Return to Nazareth
39When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.#Mt 2:23; Lk 1:26; 2:51; 4:16 40The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.#Lk 1:80; 2:52
In His Father’s House
41Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.#Ex 12:11; 23:15; Dt 16:1–6 42When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.#Dt 16:16–17 43After those days were over,#Ex 12:15 as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents#2:43 Other mss read but Joseph and his mother did not know it. 44Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,#Mt 12:46 “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”#Lk 2:49; 3:23; 4:22
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”#2:49 Or be involved in my Father’s interests (or things), or be among my Father’s people 50But they did not understand what he said to them.#Mk 9:32; Lk 9:45; 18:34
In Favor with God and with People
51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.#Lk 2:19 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.#Lk 2:40
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Luke 2
2
Yeshua’s Birth in Bethlehem
1Now it happened in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world’s inhabitants.
2This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3Everyone was traveling to be registered in his own city.
4Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David.
5He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.
6But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth—
7and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.
Shepherds Witness Angelic Praises
8Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night.
9Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified.
10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I proclaim Good News to you, which will be great joy to all the people.
11A Savior is born to you today in the city of David, who is Messiah the Lord.
12And the sign to you is this: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13And suddenly a multitude of heavenly armies appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth shalom to men of good will.”
15And when the angels departed from them into the heavens, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which Adonai has made known to us!”
16So they hurried off and found Miriam and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger.
17When they had seen this, they made known the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child.
18And all those who heard were amazed at the things the shepherds told them.
19But Miriam treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
Temple Prophets Rejoice
21When eight days had passed for His brit-milah, He was named Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present to Adonai.
23As it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Adonai.”
24So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the Torah of Adonai: “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Ruach ha-Kodesh was on him.
26And it had been revealed to him by the Ruach ha-Kodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Anointed One of Adonai.
27So in the Ruach, Simeon came into the Temple; and when the parents brought the Child Yeshua to do for Him according to the custom of the Torah,
28Simeon received Him into his arms and offered a bracha to God, saying,
29“Now may You let Your servant go in peace, O Sovereign Master, according to Your word.
30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples:
32‘A light for revelation to the nations’ and the glory of Your people Israel.”
33And His father and mother were marveling at the things that were said about Him.
34And Simeon offered a bracha over them and said to Miriam His mother, “Behold, this One is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is opposed,
35so the thoughts of many hearts may be uncovered. (And even for you, a sword will pierce through your soul.)”
36Now Anna, a daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, was a prophetess. She was well advanced in age, having lived with a husband only seven years
37and then as a widow until age eighty-four. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayers.
38And coming up at that very instant, she began praising God and speaking about the Child to all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret.
40The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.
The Boy Astonishes Jerusalem Scholars
41Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.
42When He became twelve years old, they were going up according to festival custom.
43As they headed home after completing the days, the boy Yeshua remained in Jerusalem, but His parents didn’t know.
44Supposing He was in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, then began looking for Him among relatives and friends.
45When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
46After three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the center of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47And all those hearing Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers.
48When His parents saw Yeshua, they were overwhelmed. And His mother said to Him, “Child, why did you do this to us? Look! Your father and I were searching for You frantically!”
49He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?”
50But they did not grasp the message He was telling them.
51Then He went down with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these words in her heart.
52And Yeshua kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
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