Luke 2:1–20

Christ is Born

2And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ^2aThis census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to ^bthe city of David, which is called Bethlehem, ^cbecause he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, ^dhis betrothed ¹wife, who was with child. ⁶So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷And ^eshe brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a ²manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Angels Announce Jesus to the Shepherds

⁸Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And ³behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, ^fand they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰Then the angel said to them, ^g“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ^hwhich will be to all people. ¹¹ⁱFor there is born to you this day in the city of David ^ja Savior, ^kwho is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a ⁴manger.”

^13lAnd suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴“Glory ^mto God in the highest,

And on earth ⁿpeace, ^ogoodwill ⁵toward men!”

The Shepherds Visit Jesus

¹⁵So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷Now when they had seen Him, they made ⁶widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ^19pBut Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and ^qpraising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.