Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

2In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus ^yzthat the whole empire ^ashould be registered. ²This first registration took place while ^bQuirinius was governing Syria. ^c3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

⁴And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth ^din Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, ^ebecause he was of the house and family line of David, ^f5to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him ^gand was pregnant. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord ^hstood before ⁱthem, ^jand the glory of the Lord ^kshone around them, and they were terrified. ^l10But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, ^mfor look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: ⁿ¹¹Today a Savior, ^owho is Messiah ^pthe Lord, ^qwas born for you in the city of David. ¹²This will be the sign for you: ^rYou will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

¹³Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

¹⁴Glory to God in the highest heaven, ^s

and peace on earth ^tto people He favors! ^uvw

¹⁵When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

¹⁶They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. ¹⁷After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed ^xat what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹But Mary was treasuring up all these things ^yin her heart ^zand meditating on them. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God ^afor all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus

²¹When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, ^bHe was named Jesus ^c—the name given by the angel before He was conceived. ^d22And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, ^ethey 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 ^fwill be dedicated ^g to the Lord ^hi) ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons ^jk).

Simeon’s Prophetic Praise

²⁵There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, ^llooking forward to Israel’s consolation, ^mnand the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit ^othat he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. ^p27Guided by the Spirit, he entered ^qthe temple complex. 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 slave in peace,

as You promised.

³⁰For my eyes have seen Your salvation. ^r

³¹You have prepared it

in the presence of all peoples—

³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles ^st

and glory to Your people Israel. ^u

³³His father and mother ^vwere 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 ^wand to be a sign that will be opposed ^x— ³⁵and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts ^yof many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna’s Testimony

³⁶There was also a prophetess, ^zAnna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. ^aShe was well along in years, ^bhaving lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ^cd37and was a widow for 84 years. ^eShe did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers. ^f38At that very moment, ^gshe came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. ^hi

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. ^j40The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him. ^k

In His Father’s House

⁴¹Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. ^l42When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. ^m43After those days were over, ⁿas they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents ^odid 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 complex 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, ^p“Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” ^q

⁴⁹“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” ^r50But they did not understand what He said to them. ^s

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. ^t52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people. ^u