Luke

The Birth of Jesus

1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.

2This was the first census to take place whileQuirinius was governor of Syria.

3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.

7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

14“Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.

17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.

18And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

21When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.

22And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),

24and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

The Prophecy of Simeon

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,

28Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,and for glory to Your people Israel.”

33The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.

34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to causethe rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

The Prophecy of Anna

36There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,

37and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four.She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

38Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

40And the Child grew and became strong.He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

42And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.

43When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.

44Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.

45When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

46Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

47And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

48When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

49“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”

50But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

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

1Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

2This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

5to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christthe Lord.

12This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest,on earth peace, good will toward men.”

15When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

17When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

18All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, 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 opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

24and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,

28then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

29“Now you are releasing your servant, Master,according to your word, in peace;

30for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32a light for revelation to the nations,and the glory of your people Israel.”

33Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.

34Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

35Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.

38Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

40The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

42When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;

43and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,

44but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”

49He said to them,“Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

50They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.

51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

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