Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register.2 This was the first registration; 

3 And all went to their own towns to be registered.
4 So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.5 Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged 6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby,

7 and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough.

Shepherds Hear About Jesus

8 That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep.9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened.10 The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.11 Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord.

12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”

13 Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying:
14 “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.” 

15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding trough.17 When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child.18 Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19 But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.

20 Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them.

21 When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised and was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure, 23 (It is written in the law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be given to the Lord.”) 24 Mary and Joseph also went to offer a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord says: “You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.” 

Simeon Sees Jesus

25 In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel’s sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him.26 Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord.27 The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do,

28 Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:

29 “Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.

30 With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,

31 which you prepared before all people.

32 It is a light for the non-Jewish people to see and an honor for your people, the Israelites.”
33 Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what Simeon had said about him.34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, “God has chosen this child to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept

35 so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too.”

Anna Sees Jesus

36 There was a prophetess, Anna, from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years.37 Then her husband died, and she was a widow for eighty-four years. Anna never left the Temple but worshiped God, going without food and praying day and night.

38 Standing there at that time, she thanked God and spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.

Joseph and Mary Return Home

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything the law of the Lord commanded, they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee.

40 The little child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s goodness was upon him.

Jesus As a Boy

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.42 When he was twelve years old, they went to the feast as they always did.43 After the feast days were over, they started home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.44 Thinking that Jesus was with them in the group, they traveled for a whole day. Then they began to look for him among their family and friends.45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there.46 After three days they found Jesus sitting in the Temple with the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers.

48 When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you and have been looking for you.”
49 Jesus said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

50 But they did not understand the meaning of what he said.
51 Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother kept in her mind all that had happened.52 Jesus became wiser and grew physically. People liked him, and he pleased God.

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.