2:15 When 1 the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem 2 and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord 3 has made known to us.” 2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. 4 2:17 When 5 they saw him, 6 they related what they had been told 7 about this child, 2:18 and all who heard it were astonished 8 at what the shepherds said. 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. 9 2:20 So 10 the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising 11 God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. 12
2:21 At 13 the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel 14 before he was conceived in the womb.
2:22 Now 15 when the time came for their 16 purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary 17 brought Jesus 18 up to Jerusalem 19 to present him to the Lord 2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male 20 will be set apart to the Lord” 21 ), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves 22 or two young pigeons. 23
2:25 Now 24 there was a man in Jerusalem 25 named Simeon who was righteous 26 and devout, looking for the restoration 27 of Israel, and the Holy Spirit 28 was upon him. 2:26 It 29 had been revealed 30 to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die 31 before 32 he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 33 2:27 So 34 Simeon, 35 directed by the Spirit, 36 came into the temple courts, 37 and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 38 2:28 Simeon 39 took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, 40
2:29 “Now, according to your word, 41 Sovereign Lord, 42 permit 43 your servant 44 to depart 45 in peace.
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation 46
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: 47
2:32 a light, 48
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory 49 to your people Israel.”
2:33 So 50 the child’s 51 father 52 and mother were amazed 53 at what was said about him. 2:34 Then 54 Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: 55 This child 56 is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising 57 of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. 58 2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts 59 of many hearts will be revealed 60 – and a sword 61 will pierce your own soul as well!” 62
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 63 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. 64 She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 65 2:38 At that moment, 66 she came up to them 67 and began to give thanks to God and to speak 68 about the child 69 to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 70
2:39 So 71 when Joseph and Mary 72 had performed 73 everything according to the law of the Lord, 74 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 75 of Nazareth. 76 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, 77 filled with wisdom, 78 and the favor 79 of God 80 was upon him.
2:41 Now 81 Jesus’ 82 parents went to Jerusalem 83 every 84 year for the feast of the Passover. 85 2:42 When 86 he was twelve years old, 87 they went up 88 according to custom. 2:43 But 89 when the feast was over, 90 as they were returning home, 91 the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His 92 parents 93 did not know it, 2:44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) 94 they went a day’s journey. Then 95 they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 96 2:45 When 97 they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem 98 to look for him. 2:46 After 99 three days 100 they found him in the temple courts, 101 sitting among the teachers, 102 listening to them and asking them questions. 2:47 And all who heard Jesus 103 were astonished 104 at his understanding and his answers. 2:48 When 105 his parents 106 saw him, they were overwhelmed. His 107 mother said to him, “Child, 108 why have you treated 109 us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” 110 2:49 But 111 he replied, 112 “Why were you looking for me? 113 Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 114 2:50 Yet 115 his parents 116 did not understand 117 the remark 118 he made 119 to them. 2:51 Then 120 he went down with them and came to Nazareth, 121 and was obedient 122 to them. But 123 his mother kept all these things 124 in her heart. 125
2:52 And Jesus increased 126 in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.