Luke 2

¹Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the inhabited world should be registered. ²(This was the first registration, when Quirinius was governing Syria.) ³And everyone was traveling to be registered, each to his own city.

⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was pregnant. ⁶And it happened that while they were there, the days for her to give birth were completed, ⁷and she gave birth to her son, the firstborn. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the guest quarters.

⁸And there were shepherds in that same region, living out in the fields and keeping night watches over their flock. ⁹And a messenger of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰And the messenger said to them, "Do not be afraid! For look—I am announcing good news to you of a great joy that will be for all the people: ¹¹Today a savior has been born for you in the city of David, who is the Anointed One, the Lord. ¹²And this will be the sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

¹³And suddenly there appeared with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying:

¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest realms, and on earth peace among people of his favor."

¹⁵And it happened that when the messengers had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds were saying to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶And they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the feeding trough. ¹⁷And having seen, they made known the message that had been spoken to them about this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

²¹And when eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus—the name given by the messenger before he was conceived in the womb.

²²And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord: "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

²⁵And look—there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Anointed. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, ²⁸Simeon received him into his arms and blessed God and said:

²⁹"Now you are releasing your slave, Master, according to your word, in peace, ³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: ³²a light for revelation to the nations, and glory for your people Israel."

³³And his father and mother were marveling at what was being said about him. ³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Look—this one is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed ³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

³⁶And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was greatly advanced in years, having lived with a husband for seven years from her virginity, ³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, worshiping with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸And at that very hour she came up and began giving thanks to God, and she spoke about him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child was growing and becoming strong, being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

⁴¹Now his parents used to travel to Jerusalem every year for the feast of Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³And when the days were completed, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴Supposing him to be in the traveling company, they went a day's journey and began searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵And not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.

⁴⁸When they saw him, they were overwhelmed, and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you done this to us? Look—your father and I have been searching for you in anguish!" ⁴⁹And he said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in the place of my Father?" ⁵⁰But they did not understand the word he spoke to them. ⁵¹And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus continued to advance in wisdom and maturity, and in favor with God and people.