Luke 2
Jesus Is Born
1 In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world.2 It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 All went to their own towns to be listed.
4 So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David.5 He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby.
6 While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born.7 She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn.
Angels Appear to the Shepherds
8 There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep.9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.12 Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,
14 "May glory be given to God in the highest heaven!
And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!"
15 The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger.17 After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child.18 All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over.
20 The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.
Joseph and Mary Take Jesus to the Temple
21 When the child was eight days old, he was circumcised. At the same time he was named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
22 The time for making them pure came as it is written in the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented him to the Lord.23 In the Law of the Lord it says, "The first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord." (Exodus 13:2,12)24 They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." (Leviticus 12:8)
25 In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God's promise to Israel to happen. The Holy Spirit was with him.26 The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.27 The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard.
Then Jesus' parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required.
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
29 "Lord, you are the King over all.
Now let me, your servant, go in peace.
That is what you promised.
30 My eyes have seen your salvation.
31 You have prepared it in the sight of all people.
32 It is a light to be given to those who aren't Jews.
It will bring glory to your people Israel."
33 The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.34 Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus' mother, "This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him.35 The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too."
36 There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years.37 Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without eating.
38 Anna came up to Jesus' family at that very moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.
39 Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth.40 And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God's grace.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.42 When he was 12 years old, they went up to the Feast as usual.
43 After the Feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it.44 They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day.
Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends.45 They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.46 After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions.47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere."
49 "Why were you looking for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"50 But they did not understand what he meant by that.
51 Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart.52 Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.
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.