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 Christ
1In those days #Acts 17:7 a decree went out from #[ch. 3:1] Caesar Augustus that all the world should be #[Acts 5:37]registered. 2This was the first #[See ver. 1 above] registration when#2:2 Or This was the registration before Quirinius #ch. 3:1was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up #ch. 1:26 from Galilee, from the town of #See Matt. 2:23 Nazareth, to Judea, to #ver. 11; John 7:42; [1 Sam. 16:1] the city of David, which is called #Matt. 2:1 Bethlehem, #ch. 1:27because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,#2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married who was with child. 6And #[See ver. 4 above]while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and #ver. 12 wrapped him in swaddling cloths and #ver. 16 laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in #ch. 22:11 (Gk.)the inn.#2:7 Or guest room
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord #ch. 24:4; Acts 12:7 appeared to them, and #ch. 9:31; Acts 7:55; 2 Cor. 3:18the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all #ver. 32; John 11:50; [Zech. 9:9]the people. 11For #Isa. 9:6 unto you is born this day in #ver. 4 the city of David #Matt. 1:21; John 4:42 a Savior, who is #Acts 2:36; 10:36; [ch. 23:2]; See Matt. 1:17 Christ #[ch. 1:43]the Lord. 12And #1 Sam. 2:34; 2 Kgs. 19:29; 20:8, 9; Isa. 7:11, 14 this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby #ver. 7wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel #Gen. 28:12; 32:1, 2; 1 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 18:18; Ps. 103:21; 148:2; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 # ch. 19:38; [Ps. 148:1; Matt. 21:9] “Glory to God #[ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13] in the highest,
# [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13] and on earth #ch. 1:79; Ps. 85:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Hag. 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20 peace #[ch. 3:22; 12:32; Eph. 1:5, 9; Phil. 2:13]among those with whom he is pleased!”#2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men
15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby #ver. 7, 12lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But #ver. 51; [ch. 1:66; Gen. 37:11]Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, #See ch. 7:16glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21And #See ch. 1:59 at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, #ch. 1:31; Matt. 1:21, 25he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22And #Lev. 12; [ver. 21, 27; Gal. 4:4] when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem #[1 Sam. 1:22, 24]to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in #ver. 39; Ex. 13:9; 2 Chr. 31:3 the Law of the Lord, #[Ex. 13:2, 12]“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in #[See ver. 23 above] the Law of the Lord, #Cited from Lev. 12:8“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was #ch. 1:6 righteous and #Acts 2:5; 8:2; 22:12 devout, #ver. 38; ch. 23:51; Isa. 25:9; Mark 15:43; [Gen. 49:18] waiting for #Isa. 40:1; 57:18the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not #Ps. 89:48; John 8:51; Heb. 11:5; [Acts 2:27] see death before he had seen #[ch. 9:20; 23:35; 1 Sam. 24:6]the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when #ver. 33, 41, 43, 48-51the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and #ch. 1:64blessed God and said,
29“Lord, now you are letting your servant#2:29 Or bondservant depart #Gen. 15:15 in peace,
# ver. 26 according to your word;
30for #Isa. 52:10 my eyes have seen your #See ch. 3:6salvation
31 #
Ps. 98:2; See ch. 24:47 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 #
Isa. 42:6; 49:6; 52:10; 60:3; John 8:12; Acts 13:47; 26:23 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and #[Isa. 45:25; 46:13] for glory to #ver. 10your people Israel.”
33And #ver. 27his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed #[Isa. 8:14; Matt. 21:44; John 9:39; 1 Cor. 1:23, 24; 2 Cor. 2:16; 1 Pet. 2:8, 9] for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign #Acts 28:22that is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36And there was #See Ex. 15:20a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.#2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years She did not depart from the temple, #1 Tim. 5:5 worshiping with #ch. 5:33; Matt. 6:16-18; Acts 13:2; 14:23; 2 Cor. 6:5; 11:27fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were #ver. 25; See ch. 1:68waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39And when they had performed everything according to #ver. 23 the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of #ver. 4Nazareth. 40#ch. 1:80And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now #ver. 27 his parents went #[1 Sam. 1:3] to Jerusalem every year at #Ex. 23:15; Deut. 16:1; John 2:13the Feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, #John 11:55they went up according to custom. 43And when the feast #Ex. 12:15; Lev. 23:8; Deut. 16:3 was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. #[See ver. 41 above]His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, #See Matt. 26:55 sitting among #ch. 5:17the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when his parents#2:48 Greek they saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, #ver. 27; [ver. 49]your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that #See ch. 13:33 I must be in #John 2:16; 14:2my Father’s house?”#2:49 Or about my Father’s business 50And #[ch. 18:34]; See Mark 9:32they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And #See ver. 19his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus #[1 Sam. 2:26]increased in wisdom and in stature#2:52 Or years and in #[1 Sam. 2:26]favor with God and man.
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