Luke 2

1In those days an order went out from Caesar Augustus that a register should be made of the whole empire. 2This was the first registration, and it took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3Everyone set out to be registered, each in their own town.

4So Joseph too went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to David’s town, Bethlehem, since he was from the house and clan of David. 5He went to be registered together with Mary, who was engaged to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the days of her pregnancy came to an end, 7and she bore her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in cloths and laid him in a feeding trough, because the guest room had no space for them.

8In the same area there were shepherds out in the open country, taking turns to guard their flock through the night. 9An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord blazed around them, and they were struck with great fear. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not fear. I am bringing you good news, a great joy that is for all the people. 11Today, in David’s town, a Savior has been born for you: Christ, the Lord. 12The sign for you is this: you will find a baby, wrapped snugly in cloths and lying in a feeding trough.” 13All at once the angel was joined by a great crowd of heaven’s army, who praised God and said, 14“Glory to God in the heights of heaven, and on earth peace to the people he favors!”

15When the angels had gone back into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let us go across to Bethlehem and look at what has taken place, what the Lord has told us.” 16They made haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. 17When they saw the child, they told everyone what they had been told about him. 18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary kept all these things close and turned them over in her heart. 20The shepherds went back, glorifying God and praising him for all they had heard and seen. It had been just as they were told.

21Eight days later, when the time came for his circumcision, he was given the name Jesus, as the angel had called him before he was conceived.

22When the time came for their purification under the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23For it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord.” 24They also came to offer the sacrifice that the law of the Lord requires: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25Now in Jerusalem there lived a man called Simeon, upright and reverent, who longed for the day God would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was on him. 26The Holy Spirit had made known to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple. Jesus’s parents were bringing the child in, to carry out for him what the law’s custom required, 28and Simeon took him up in his arms, blessed God and said, 29“Master, now you are letting your servant go in peace, as you promised, 30because my eyes have seen the salvation that comes from you, 31which you have prepared in full view of every people: 32a light of revelation for the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33His father and mother stood amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is set to make many in Israel fall and rise again. He will be a sign that people oppose, 35and a sword will go through your own soul as well, so that the thoughts of many hearts will come to light.”

36A prophet was there too, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had married as a young woman and lived with her husband seven years, 37and she had been a widow ever since; she was now eighty-four. She never left the temple, but served God night and day with fasting and prayer. 38She came up just then, gave thanks to God, and went on speaking about him to everyone who was waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.

39When they had carried out everything the law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to Nazareth, their own town.

40The child kept growing and gaining strength. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God rested on him.

41Year by year his parents used to go up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. 42When he was twelve, they went up as the custom of the feast was. 43After the days of the feast were over, as they set off for home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing. 44Thinking he was with the others on the road, they travelled for a whole day; then they began hunting for him among their relatives and the people they knew. 45Not finding him, they turned back to Jerusalem, still searching for him. 46Three days later they found him in the temple, seated among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. 47Everyone who heard him was astounded at how much he understood and at the answers he gave. 48When his parents saw him, they were stunned, and his mother said to him, “My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been looking for you, sick with worry.” 49He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not grasp what he meant. 51So he went back down with them to Nazareth, and he lived under their authority. His mother kept all these things safe in her heart.

52And Jesus advanced in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.