Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
1In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,#2.11 Or the Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,#2.13 Gk army praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”#2.14 Other ancient authorities read peace, goodwill among people
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Jesus Is Named
21After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;#2.25 Gk Symeon this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah.#2.26 Or the Lord's Christ 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon#2.27 Gk In the Spirit, he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon#2.28 Gk he took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29“Master, now you are dismissing your servant#2.29 Gk slave in peace,
according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon#2.34 Gk Symeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet, Anna#2.36 Gk Hanna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child#2.38 Gk him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look 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 who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents#2.48 Gk they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”#2.49 Or be about my Father's interests? 50But they did not understand what he said to them. 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,#2.52 Or in stature and in divine and human favor.
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New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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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