Luke 2:36–52

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

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.^{z 42}When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was amazed^a at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother^b said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father^c and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^{fd 50}But they did not understand what he was saying to them.^e

⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them^f and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.^{g 52}And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.^h