Luke 2

Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all tthe inhabited earth.2 This was the first census taken while tQuirinius was governor of Syria.3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is tChrist the Lord.12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men twith whom He is pleased."

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"),24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
And the glory of Your people Israel."

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul-to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Return to Nazareth

39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Visit to Jerusalem

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You."49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?"50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Luke 2

1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.

15 And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.22 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace;

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him;34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;35 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,37 and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.39 And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast;43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not;44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house?50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.