Luke 2
2
Jesus Is Born
1At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire. 2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All the people went to register in the cities where their ancestors had lived.
4So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem. Joseph, a descendant of King David, went to Bethlehem because David had been born there. 5Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.
6While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child. 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn.
Angels Announce the Birth of Jesus
8Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night. 9An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified. 10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. 11Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city. 12This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those who have his good will!”
15The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.”
16They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger. 17When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him. 18Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was amazed.
19Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them.
20As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.
Jesus’ Parents Obey Moses’ Teachings
21Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
22After the days required by Moses’ Teachings to make a mother clean #2:22 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God. had passed, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem. They took Jesus to present him to the Lord. 23They did exactly what was written in the Lord’s Teachings: “Every firstborn boy is to be set apart as holy to the Lord.” 24They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord’s Teachings: “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon’s Prophecy
25A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon 26and had told him that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send.
27Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses’ Teachings required. 28Then Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God by saying,
29“Now, Lord, you are allowing your servant to leave in peace
as you promised.
30My eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared for all people to see.
32He is a light that will reveal ⌞salvation⌟ to the nations
and bring glory to your people Israel.”
33Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is the reason that many people in Israel will be condemned and many others will be saved. He will be a sign that will expose 35the thoughts of those who reject him. And a sword will pierce your heart.”
Anna’s Prophecy
36Anna, a prophet, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. Her husband had died seven years after they were married, 37and she had been a widow for 84 years. Anna never left the temple courtyard but worshiped day and night by fasting and praying. 38At that moment she came up to Mary and Joseph and began to thank God. She spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for Jerusalem to be set free.
39After doing everything the Lord’s Teachings required, Joseph and Mary returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 40The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor #2:40 Or “grace.” was with him.
Mary and Joseph Find Jesus with the Teachers in the Temple Courtyard
41Every year Jesus’ parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42When he was 12 years old, they went as usual.
43When the festival was over, they left for home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. 44They thought that he was with the others who were traveling with them. After traveling for a day, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46Three days later, they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. 47His understanding and his answers stunned everyone who heard him.
48When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!”
49Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you realize that I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51Then he returned with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them.
His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity. He gained favor from God and people.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Luke 2
2
Luke 2
1¶ And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, each one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judaea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and family of David)
5to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
8¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the clarity of the Lord shone round about them, and they feared greatly.
10But the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you a gospel of great joy, which shall be to all the people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will in man.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has made known unto us.
16And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad that which had been told them concerning this child.
18And all those that heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21¶ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord)
24and to offer a sacrifice according to that which 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 the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he should see the Christ of the Lord.
27And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29Lord, now let thy slave depart in peace, according to thy word,
30for mine eyes have seen thy saving health,
31which thou hast prepared before the face of all the peoples:
32a light to be revealed unto the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
34And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against
35(yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
36And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37and she was a widow eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
38And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spoke of him to all those that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39And when they had completed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth.
40And the child grew and was comforted of the Spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.
41¶ And his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43And having completed the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.
45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46And it came to pass that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.
47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Knew ye not that it behooves me to be about my Father’s business?
50And they understood not the word which he spoke unto them.
51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them, but his mother kept all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in age and in grace with God and men.
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International