Luke 2

1 Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole inhabited world should be registered. 2 (This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.) [a] † 3 And all were going to be registered, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was pregnant.

6 And it happened, while they were there, that the days were completed for her to give birth, 7 and she bore her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the lodging place. [b] †

8 And there were shepherds in that same region, living out in the fields and keeping the watches of the night over their flock. 9 And a messenger of the Lord stood over them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared a great fear. 10 And the messenger said to them, “Do not be afraid; for look, I bring you good news of a great joy which will be for all the people: 11 today there was born for you one who rescues, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. [d] 12 And this is the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”

13 And suddenly there was with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying:

15 And it happened, when the messengers went away from them into heaven, that the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let us go over as far as Bethlehem and see this word that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” [f] 16 And they came in haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.

17 And when they saw it, they made known the word that had been spoken to them about this child. 18 And all who heard wondered at the things spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these words, turning them over in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to them.

21 And when eight days were completed for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus — the name called by the messenger before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of their cleansing were completed 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 that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”; [g] 24 and to give a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord: “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” [h]

25 And look, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. [i] 26 And it had been disclosed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what the law made customary, 28 he himself took him into his arms and blessed God and said:

33 And his father and his mother were wondering at the things being said about him. [l] 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Look, this one is set for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against — 35 and a sword will go through your own soul too — so that the reasonings of many hearts may be uncovered.”

36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was far along in many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she was a widow to eighty-four years, and she never left the temple, serving with fasts and pleas night and day. [m] 38 And at that very hour she came up and acknowledged God, and spoke about him to all who were waiting for the ransom of Jerusalem. [n]

39 And when they had finished everything according to the law of the Lord, they turned back to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom; and God’s favor was on him.

41 And his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, as they were going up according to the custom of the feast 43 and had completed the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking he was in the traveling company, they went a day’s journey and then searched for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and not finding him they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

46 And it happened, after three days, that they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, listening to them and questioning them. 47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him they were struck out of themselves, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in pain.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be among the things of my Father?” [o] 50 And they did not understand the word he spoke to them.

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. 52 And Jesus went on advancing in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and with people. [p]