Luke 2

₁In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ₂This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ₃And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ₄And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ₅to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ₆And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ₇And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

₈And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ₉And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ₁₀And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ₁₁For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ₁₂And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ₁₃And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

₁₅When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ₁₆And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ₁₇And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ₁₈And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ₁₉But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ₂₀And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

₂₁And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

₂₂And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, 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 first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ₂₄and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said 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, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ₂₆And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ₂₇And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ₂₈he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

₃₃And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ₃₄And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ₃₅(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

₃₆And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ₃₇and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ₃₈And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

₃₉And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ₄₀And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

₄₁Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ₄₂And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ₄₃And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ₄₄but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ₄₅and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ₄₆After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ₄₇And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ₄₈And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ₄₉And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ₅₀And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ₅₁And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

₅₂And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.