Luke 2

¹Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of the whole Roman world. ²(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria.) ³And everyone went to be registered, each to his own ancestral town.

⁴Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem—because he was of the house and family line of David— ⁵to be registered with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was now pregnant. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to give birth, 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 space for them in the guest room.

⁸In that same region, there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch through the night over their flock. ⁹And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with a great fear. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not fear! For behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will be for all the people: ¹¹Today in the city of David, a Savior has been born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people of His favor!”

¹⁵When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem and see this matter that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. ¹⁷After seeing this, they made known the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child. ¹⁸And everyone who heard it was amazed at what was told to them by the shepherds. ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these matters, weighing them carefully in her heart. ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

²¹When eight days had passed for his circumcision, his name was called Jesus—the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²²When the days for 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 firstborn male that 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.”

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was just 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 Messiah. ²⁷Guided by the Spirit, he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the Law, ²⁸Simeon took him into his arms, blessed God, and said:

²⁹“Now, Master, you are releasing your servant in peace, according to your word; ³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹Which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples— ³²A light for revelation to the nations, and glory for your people Israel.”

³³The child’s father and mother were marvelling at the things being said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that will be opposed— ³⁵and a broadsword will pierce through your own soul as well—so that the inner reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years; she had lived with her husband for seven years after her virginity ³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving God with fastings and prayers night and day. ³⁸Coming up at that very hour, she began giving thanks to God and continued speaking about the child to all those who were waiting for the liberation of Jerusalem.

³⁹When they had finished everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

⁴¹Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. ⁴³After they had completed the days of the festival, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not realize it. ⁴⁴Assuming he was in the traveling party, they went a day’s journey and then began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

⁴⁶It happened that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

⁴⁹And he said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰But they did not understand the matter he spoke to them. ⁵¹Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he remained subject to them. And his mother kept all these matters in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.