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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Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
22Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”#2:23 Exod 13:2. 24So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”#2:24 Lev 12:8.
The Prophecy of Simeon
25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30I have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared for all people.
32He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
The Prophecy of Anna
36Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.#2:37 Or She had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
39When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
Jesus Speaks with the Teachers
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”#2:49 Or “Didn’t you realize that I should be involved with my Father’s affairs?” 50But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.
52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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