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 ^j^k).

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 ^s^t

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, ^c^d³⁷and 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

Read in Logos

Luke 2:30–32: “… for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Footnotes

d2:21 Or conceived in the womb
f2:23 “Every male that opens a womb
g2:23 be called holy
m2:25 The coming of the Messiah with His salvation for the nation; Is 40:1; 61:2; Lk 2:26, 30
q2:27 And in the Spirit, he came into
s2:32 Or the nations
v2:33 Other read But Joseph and His mother
x2:34 Or spoken against
y2:35 Or schemes
b2:36 in many days
c2:36 years from her virginity
e2:37 Or she was a widow until the age of 84
g2:38 very hour
h2:38 Other read in Jerusalem

Cross references

b2:21 Lk 1:59
c2:21 Lk 1:31
e2:22 Lv 12:6–8
h2:23 Ex 11:5; 12:12, 29; 13:2, 12; 34:19; Dt 15:19
i2:23 Ex 13:2, 12
j2:24 Lv 5:11; 12:8
k2:24 Lv 5:11; 12:8
l2:25 Lk 1:6
n2:25 Ps 135:14; Is 40:1–2, 11; 49:10, 13; 51:3, 12; 57:18; 61:2; 66:13; Jr 31:9; Mk 15:43; Lk 2:38; 23:51
o2:26 Mt 2:12
p2:26 Ps 89:48; Jn 8:51; Heb 11:5
r2:30 Ps 119:166, 174; Is 52:10; Lk 3:6
t2:32 Is 42:6; 49:6, 9; Ac 13:47; 26:23
u2:32 Is 46:13
w2:34 Mt 21:44; 1Co 1:23; 2Co 2:16; 1Pt 2:8
z2:36 Lk 2:38; Ac 21:9
a2:36 Jos 19:24
d2:36 1Tm 5:9
f2:37 Lk 5:33; Ac 13:3; 14:23; 1Tm 5:5
i2:38 Is 52:9; Lk 1:68; 2:25
j2:39 Mt 2:23; Lk 1:26; 2:51; 4:16
k2:40 Lk 1:80; 2:52