Luke 2
2
The Birth of Jesus
Matt. 1:18-25
1 Now it occurred that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world. 2 This registration first took place when Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each one to his own town. 4 So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, who was legally pledged to be married to him, and who was with Child.* 6 And it occurred that, while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn* Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no space for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were shepherds in the same region, who were living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly afraid.* 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not fear; for behold, I announce good news of a great joy to you, which will be for all the people: 11 that today there has been born a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. 12 And this is the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth, peace among men*
with whom He is pleased!”
15 And it occurred that, when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to speak to one another, “Let us go then to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came hastening and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw Him, they made known the message that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. 18 And all who heard it marvelled concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, just as it had been said to them.
21 And when eight days were fulfilled, at which time He was to be circumcised,* He was called Jesus, the name He was called by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 And when the days of their purification were fulfilled according to the Law of Moses, 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 male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been divinely disclosed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the customary requirements stipulated by the Law, 28 he received Him in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Now, Lord, you are dismissing Your servant in peace,
according to Your word;
30 since my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 which You have prepared in the sight of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to Your people Israel.”
33 And his father and mother were wondering at what was said concerning Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against 35 (and a sword will pierce your own soul also), in order that thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Prophetess Anna
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and herself as a widow until eighty-four years old) who did not leave the temple, worshipping night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 And at that same hour, she came up, and she began to give thanks* to God and to speak concerning Him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Boy Jesus
39 And when they had finished everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the Child continued to grow and become strong, filled with wisdom, and the favour of God was upon Him.
Jesus at the Temple
41 Now His parents went every year to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, when they went up according to the custom of the Feast 43 and had completed the days, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And His parents did not know it, 44 but thinking Him to be among the company of travellers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for Him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for Him. 46 And it turned out that after three days, they found Him in the temple,* seated in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him* were astonished at His understanding and His answers. 48 And when they saw Him, they were struck with amazement, and His mother said to Him, “Child, why did You treat us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been distressed, searching for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know that it was necessary for Me to be in My Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the word which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued to be submissive to them. And His mother began to treasure all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus continued to advance in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.*
Notes
5 That is, who was pregnant
7 One ancient Greek manuscript omits firstborn
9 Greek they were afraid with great fear
14 Or people, as the term is understood in a generic sense
21 Greek And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise Him ….
38 Or to give praise
46 Or outer courts of the temple
47 Some ancient manuscripts omit who heard Him
52 Or people, as the term is understood in a generic sense
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Luke 2: AFINTLIT
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Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
