2:1 Now 1 in those days a decree 2 went out from Caesar 3 Augustus 4 to register 5 all the empire 6 for taxes. 2:2 This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor 7 of Syria. 2:3 Everyone 8 went to his own town 9 to be registered. 2:4 So 10 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth 11 in Galilee to Judea, to the city 12 of David called Bethlehem, 13 because he was of the house 14 and family line 15 of David. 2:5 He went 16 to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, 17 and who was expecting a child. 2:6 While 18 they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 19 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth 20 and laid him in a manger, 21 because there was no place for them in the inn. 22
2:8 Now 23 there were shepherds 24 nearby 25 living out in the field, keeping guard 26 over their flock at night. 2:9 An 27 angel of the Lord 28 appeared to 29 them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 30 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, 31 for I proclaim to you good news 32 that brings great joy to all the people: 2:11 Today 33 your Savior is born in the city 34 of David. 35 He is Christ 36 the Lord. 2:12 This 37 will be a sign 38 for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 39 2:13 Suddenly 40 a vast, heavenly army 41 appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
2:14 “Glory 42 to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people 43 with whom he is pleased!” 44
2:15 When 45 the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem 46 and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord 47 has made known to us.” 2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. 48 2:17 When 49 they saw him, 50 they related what they had been told 51 about this child, 2:18 and all who heard it were astonished 52 at what the shepherds said. 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. 53 2:20 So 54 the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising 55 God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. 56
2:21 At 57 the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel 58 before he was conceived in the womb.
2:22 Now 59 when the time came for their 60 purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary 61 brought Jesus 62 up to Jerusalem 63 to present him to the Lord 2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male 64 will be set apart to the Lord” 65 ), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves 66 or two young pigeons. 67
2:25 Now 68 there was a man in Jerusalem 69 named Simeon who was righteous 70 and devout, looking for the restoration 71 of Israel, and the Holy Spirit 72 was upon him. 2:26 It 73 had been revealed 74 to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die 75 before 76 he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 77 2:27 So 78 Simeon, 79 directed by the Spirit, 80 came into the temple courts, 81 and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 82 2:28 Simeon 83 took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, 84
2:29 “Now, according to your word, 85 Sovereign Lord, 86 permit 87 your servant 88 to depart 89 in peace.
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation 90
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: 91
2:32 a light, 92
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory 93 to your people Israel.”
2:33 So 94 the child’s 95 father 96 and mother were amazed 97 at what was said about him. 2:34 Then 98 Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: 99 This child 100 is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising 101 of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. 102 2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts 103 of many hearts will be revealed 104 – and a sword 105 will pierce your own soul as well!” 106
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 107 having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. 108 She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 109 2:38 At that moment, 110 she came up to them 111 and began to give thanks to God and to speak 112 about the child 113 to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 114
2:39 So 115 when Joseph and Mary 116 had performed 117 everything according to the law of the Lord, 118 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 119 of Nazareth. 120 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, 121 filled with wisdom, 122 and the favor 123 of God 124 was upon him.
2:41 Now 125 Jesus’ 126 parents went to Jerusalem 127 every 128 year for the feast of the Passover. 129 2:42 When 130 he was twelve years old, 131 they went up 132 according to custom. 2:43 But 133 when the feast was over, 134 as they were returning home, 135 the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His 136 parents 137 did not know it, 2:44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) 138 they went a day’s journey. Then 139 they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 140 2:45 When 141 they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem 142 to look for him. 2:46 After 143 three days 144 they found him in the temple courts, 145 sitting among the teachers, 146 listening to them and asking them questions. 2:47 And all who heard Jesus 147 were astonished 148 at his understanding and his answers. 2:48 When 149 his parents 150 saw him, they were overwhelmed. His 151 mother said to him, “Child, 152 why have you treated 153 us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” 154 2:49 But 155 he replied, 156 “Why were you looking for me? 157 Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 158 2:50 Yet 159 his parents 160 did not understand 161 the remark 162 he made 163 to them.