Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
(Matthew 1.18-25)
1About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books.#2.1 names … listed in record books: This was done so that everyone could be made to pay taxes to the Emperor. 2These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.#2.2 Quirinius was governor of Syria: It is known that Quirinius made a record of the people in a.d. 6 or 7. But the exact date of the record taking that Luke mentions is not known.
3Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. 4So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family.
5Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6and while they were there, 7she gave birth to her first-born#2.7 first-born: The Jewish people said that the first-born son in each of their families belonged to the Lord. son. She dressed him in baby clothes#2.7 dressed him in baby clothes: The Greek text has “wrapped him in wide strips of cloth,” which was how young babies were dressed. and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds
8That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9#Tb 5.4. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10But the angel said, “Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”
13Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said:
14“Praise God in heaven!
Peace on earth to everyone
who pleases God.”
15After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” 16They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.
17When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. 18Everyone listened and was surprised. 19But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.
20As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.
21 #
Lv 12.3;
Lk 1.31. Eight days later Jesus' parents did for him what the Law of Moses commands.#2.21 what the Law of Moses commands: See the note at 1.59. And they named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary when he promised she would have a baby.
Simeon Praises the Lord
22 #
Lv 12.6-8. The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.#2.22 after her baby is born: After a Jewish mother gave birth to a son, she was considered “unclean” and had to stay home until he was circumcised (see the note at 1.59). Then she had to stay home for another 33 days, before offering a sacrifice to the Lord.
They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, 23#Ex 13.2,12. just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born#2.23 first-born: See the note at 2.7. baby boy belongs to the Lord.” 24The Law of the Lord also says parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.
25At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him 26and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
27When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. 28Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
29“Lord, I am your servant,
and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
your promise to me.
30With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people,
31and foreign nations
will also see this.
32 #
Is 42.6; 49.6; 52.10. Your mighty power is a light
for all nations,
and it will bring honor
to your people Israel.”
33Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. 34Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, 35and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”
Anna Speaks about the Child Jesus
36 #
Jdt 8.4,5. The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. 37And now she was 84 years old.#2.37 And now she was 84 years old: Or “And now she had been a widow for 84 years.” Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.#2.37 without eating: The Jewish people sometimes went without eating (also called “fasting”) to show their love for God or to show sorrow for their sins.
38At this time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.
The Return to Nazareth
39 #
Mt 2.23. After Joseph and Mary had done everything that the Law of the Lord commands, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 #
Ex 12.1-27; Dt 16.1-8. Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. 42And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. 43After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. 44They thought he was traveling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him. 45When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.
46Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew and at the answers he gave.
48When his parents found him, they were amazed. His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried, and we have been searching for you!”
49Jesus answered, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house?”#2.49 in my Father's house: Or “doing my Father's work.” 50But they did not understand what he meant.
51Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them. His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened.
52 #
1 S 2.26; Pr 3.4. Jesus became wise, and he grew strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. 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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