Luke 2:22–52

²²And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,^ag 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 firstborn male will be dedicated^A to the Lord^Ba) ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons^Cb).

SIMEON’S PROPHETIC PRAISE

²⁵There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,^c looking forward to Israel’s consolation,^d and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit^e that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.^{f 27}Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

²⁹Now, Master,

you can dismiss your servant in peace,

as you promised.

³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation.^g

³¹You have prepared it

in the presence of all peoples—

³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles^Dh

and glory to your people Israel.ⁱ

³³His father and mother^E were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, “Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel^j and to be a sign that will be opposed^F—³⁵and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts^G of many hearts may be revealed.”

ANNA’S TESTIMONY

³⁶There was also a prophetess,^k Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.^l She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,^{Hm 37}and was a widow for eighty-four years.^I She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.^{n 38}At that very moment,^J she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.^Ko

THE FAMILY’S RETURN TO NAZARETH

³⁹When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.^{p 40}The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.^q

IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE

⁴¹Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.^{r 42}When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.^{s 43}After those days were over,^t as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents^A did not know it. ⁴⁴Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶After three days, they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all those who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him,^u “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”^v

⁴⁹“Why were you searching for me?” he asked them. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”^{B 50}But they did not understand what he said to them.^w

IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND WITH PEOPLE

⁵¹Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.^{x 52}And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.^y