Luke 2:21–40

²¹On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,^f he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.^g

Jesus Presented in the Temple

²²When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,^h Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”^b),^{i 24}and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”^cj

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.^k He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,^l and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,^{m 28}Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,ⁿ

you may now dismiss^d your servant in peace.^o

³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,^p

³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”^q

³³The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:^r “This child is destined to cause the falling^s and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶There was also a prophet,^t Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^eu She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.^{v 38}Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.^w

³⁹When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.^{x 40}And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.^y