Lukas 2
Jesus bliver født
1 På den tid befalede den romerske kejser Augustus, at der skulle foretages en folketælling i hele kejserriget.
2 Denne folketælling foregik før den, som fandt sted, mens Kvirinius var guvernør i Syrien.t
3 Alle tog af sted for at lade sig indskrive på listerne i den by, de stammede fra,4 og da Josef var af Kong Davids slægt, måtte han rejse fra Nazaret i Galilæa til Betlehem i Judæa, Davids by.
5 Han var nødt til at tage sin forlovede, Maria, med sig, selv om hun var højgravid.
6 Mens de opholdt sig i Betlehem, kom det tidspunkt, hvor hun skulle føde.
7 Maria fødte sin søn, den førstefødte. Hun svøbte ham i et tæppe og lagde ham i en krybbe i staldrummet, for gæsteværelsett var optaget.
Englene og hyrderne på marken
8 Samme nat lå nogle hyrder under åben himmel og vogtede får på marken uden for byen.9 Pludselig stod der en engel foran dem, og hele landskabet lå badet i et strålende lys fra Guds herlighed. Hyrderne blev forskrækkede,10 men englen beroligede dem. Vær ikke bange! sagde han. Jeg er kommet for at fortælle jer en stor og glædelig nyhed, som angår hele folket:11 I nat er jeres Frelser født i Davids by. Det er Messias, og han er jeres herre.
12 Det her skal være et tegn for jer: I vil finde et lille barn, som ligger i en krybbe, indsvøbt i et tæppe.
13 I det samme brød himlen ud i jubel. En hær af engle lovpriste Gud med følgende sang:14
Al ære til Gud i Himlen
og fred på jorden
til dem, der gør Guds vilje! t15 Da englene igen var vendt tilbage til Himlen, sagde hyrderne til hinanden: Lad os gå ind til Betlehem og se, hvad der er sket, det, som Gud har fortalt os om.16 Så skyndte de sig ind til byen, hvor de fandt det sted, hvor Maria og Josef boede, og de fandt barnet, som lå i krybben.17 Hyrderne fortalte nu, hvad englen havde sagt om barnet,18 og alle, som hørte deres beretning, var forundrede.19 Maria tog alle ordene til sig og tænkte ofte senere på, hvad der var sket den nat.
20 Hyrderne vendte glade tilbage til fårene på marken, imens de lovpriste Gud for alt, hvad de havde set og hørt. Det var jo sket, som englen havde sagt.
Simeon velsigner Jesus i templet
21 Da drengen en uge senere skulle omskæres, fik han navnet Jesus. Det var det navn, englen havde givet ham, før han blev undfanget i sin mors liv.
22-24 Ifølge Toraen skal en kvinde, som har født, gennemgå en renselsesceremoni, og der skal bringes et offer i templet.t Endvidere står der skrevet, at enhver førstefødt søn skal tilhøre Gud.t Josef og Maria gik derfor op til templet i Jerusalem, da tiden var inde, for at bringe det foreskrevne renselsesoffer, dvs. et par turtelduer eller blot to unge duer. Samtidig tog de barnet med for at indvi ham til at tjene Gud.
25 I Jerusalem boede der en mand ved navn Simeon. Han var en mand, der omhyggeligt fulgte Guds lov og længselsfuldt ventede på Israels Messias. Han var fyldt med Helligånden,26 og Ånden havde åbenbaret for ham, at han ikke skulle dø, før han havde set den Frelser, som Gud havde lovet at sende.27 Netop den dag, da Josef og Maria kom for at indvi barnet Jesus, som Toraen foreskrev, havde Helligånden givet Simeon den indskydelse, at han skulle gå op i templet,
28 og der mødte han dem så. Han tog straks den lille i sine arme og begyndte at lovprise Gud på følgende måde:
29 Herre, endelig kan jeg som din tjener gå bort i fred, som du har lovet mig.30-31 For nu har jeg set ham, som skal være alle folkeslags frelser,
32 ham, som er det lys, der bringer ny indsigt til mennesker og ære til dit folk, Israel.
33 Josef og Maria stod overvældede og hørte på alt det, der blev sagt om Jesus.
34-35 Så velsignede Simeon dem og sagde til Maria: Det barn vil blive årsag til fald for mange blandt Israels folk, men andre vil blive hjulpet. Han vil afsløre menneskers inderste tanker, og mange vil hade ham for det. Til sidst vil sorgen gennemtrænge dit hjerte som et sværd.
36 Der var på det tidspunkt i Jerusalem også en gammel profet ved navn Anna. Hun var datter af Fanuel og tilhørte Ashers stamme. Efter syv års ægteskab37 havde hun levet som enke, og nu som 84-årig var hun altid at finde i templet. Under faste og bøn tjente hun Gud dag og nat.
38 Hun kom nu hen til dem og brød ud i tak til Gud. Derefter fortalte hun om barnet til alle, som længtes efter Jerusalems befrielse.
39 Da Jesu forældre havde opfyldt alt, hvad der var foreskrevet i Guds lov, vendte de tilbage til deres hjemby, Nazaret, i Galilæa.
40 Der voksede Jesus op, og han blev en moden og klog dreng. Det var tydeligt, at Guds velsignelse var over ham.
Jesus som tolvårig i templet
41 Josef og Maria rejste hvert år til Jerusalem for at være med til påskefesten.42 Da Jesus var blevet 12 år gammel, fik han lov til at komme med for første gang.43 Da højtidsdagene var forbi, begyndte Josef og Maria på rejsen tilbage til Nazaret, men Jesus blev i Jerusalem, uden at hans forældre vidste det.44 Den første dag tænkte de ikke over hans fravær, fordi de regnede med, at han var sammen med nogle venner blandt de øvrige rejsende. Men da han ved aftenstid endnu ikke var dukket op, søgte de efter ham blandt familie og venner.
45 Da han ikke var at finde nogen steder, vendte de om og brugte den næste dag til at rejse tilbage til Jerusalem.
46 På den tredje dag fandt de ham i templet, hvor han sad fordybet i samtale med dem, der underviste i Toraen.47 De undrede sig alle over hans kloge spørgsmål og den måde, han svarede på.
48 Hans forældre vidste ikke, hvad de skulle tænke, da de fandt ham siddende blandt alle de lærde, men så udbrød hans mor: Jamen, dreng dog! Hvordan kunne du gøre sådan imod os? Din far og jeg har været så urolige for dig, og vi har ledt efter dig alle vegne!
49 Hvorfor har I ledt efter mig alle vegne? spurgte Jesus. Vidste I ikke, at jeg har en opgave her i min Fars hus?
50 Men de forstod ikke, hvad han mente med det.
51 Så fulgte han med dem tilbage til Nazaret og var lydig imod dem. Siden hen spekulerede Maria tit på det, han havde sagt.
52 Jesus voksede både åndeligt og fysisk og var vellidt af Gud og mennesker.
Luke 2
The Census and the Birth of Jesus
1 Nowt in those days a decrees went out from Caesart Augustuss to registerts all the empiret for taxes.2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governort of Syria.3 Everyonet went to his own townt to be registered.4 Sot Joseph also went up from the town of Nazarethss in Galilee to Judea, to the cityt of David called Bethlehem,ss because he was of the houses and family linet of David.5 He wentt to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him,t and who was expecting a child.6 Whilet they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.t
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloths and laid him in a manger,t because there was no place for them in the inn.ts
The Shepherds’ Visit
8 Nowt there were shepherdss nearbyt living out in the field, keeping guardt over their flock at night.9 Ant angel of the Lordt appeared tot them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.ts10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully,t for I proclaim to you good newst that brings great joy to all the people:11 Todays your Savior is born in the cityt of David.t He is Christts the Lord.12 Thist will be a signs for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”t
13 Suddenlyt a vast, heavenly armyt appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glorys to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among peoplet with whom he is pleased!”s
15 Whent the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehems and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lords has made known to us.”16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.t17 Whent they saw him,t they related what they had been toldt about this child,18 and all who heard it were astonishedt at what the shepherds said.19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.t
20 Sot the shepherds returned, glorifying and praisings God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.ts
21 Att the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angels before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus’ Presentation at the Temple
22 Nowt when the time came for theirsts purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Maryt brought Jesust up to Jerusalems to present him to the Lord23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn maletwill be set apart to the Lord”s),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of dovessor two young pigeons.s
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 Nowt there was a man in Jerusalems named Simeon who was righteoust and devout, looking for the restorationts of Israel, and the Holy Spirits was upon him.26 Itt had been revealedt to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not diet beforet he had seen the Lord’s Christ.ts27 Sot Simeon,t directed by the Spirit,t came into the temple courts,ts and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,t
28 Simeont took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,t
29 “Now, according to your word,s Sovereign Lord,t permits your servantts to departt in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvations
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:s
32 a light,t
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glorys to your people Israel.”
33 Sot the child’st fatherss and mother were amazedt at what was said about him.34 Thent Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully:t This childt is destined to be the cause of the falling and risings of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.t
35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughtst of many hearts will be revealeds – and a swords will pierce your own soul as well!”s
The Testimony of Anna
36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old,t having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years.t She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.s
38 At that moment,t she came up to themt and began to give thanks to God and to speakt about the childt to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.ss
39 Sot when Joseph and Maryt had performedt everything according to the law of the Lord,s they returned to Galilee, to their own townt of Nazareth.s
40 And the child grew and became strong,s filled with wisdom,s and the favort of Gods was upon him.
Jesus in the Temple
41 Nowt Jesus’t parents went to Jerusalems everyt year for the feast of the Passover.s42 Whent he was twelve years old,s they went ups according to custom.43 Butt when the feast was over,t as they were returning home,t the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Hist parentss did not know it,44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers)s they went a day’s journey. Thent they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances.t45 Whent they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalems to look for him.46 Aftert three dayss they found him in the temple courts,t sitting among the teachers,t listening to them and asking them questions.47 And all who heard Jesust were astonisheds at his understanding and his answers.48 Whent his parentst saw him, they were overwhelmed. Hist mother said to him, “Child,t why have you treatedt us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.”t49 Butt he replied,t “Why were you looking for me?t Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”t50 Yett his parentst did not understands the remarkt he madet to them.
51 Thent he went down with them and came to Nazareth,s and was obedientt to them. Butt his mother kept all these thingst in her heart.s
52 And Jesus increasedt in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.