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
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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© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.