The Birth of Jesus
1 In those days Caesar
Augustus
issued a
decree
that a
census
should be
taken of
the entire
Roman
world.
2 (This
was the
first
census
that took
place
while
Quirinius
was
governor
of Syria.)
3 And
everyone
went to
their own
town to
register.
4 So Joseph also went up
from the
town of
Nazareth
in Galilee
to Judea,
to
Bethlehem
the town
of David,
because he
belonged
to the
house and
line of
David.
5 He
went there
to
register
with Mary,
who was
pledged to
be married
to him and
was
expecting
a child.
6 While
they were
there, the
time came
for the
baby to be
born,
7 and
she gave
birth to
her
firstborn,
a son. She
wrapped
him in
cloths and
placed him
in a
manger,
because
there was
no guest
room
available
for them.
8 And there were shepherds
living out
in the
fields
nearby,
keeping
watch over
their
flocks at
night.
9 An
angel of
the Lord
appeared
to them,
and the
glory of
the Lord
shone
around
them, and
they were
terrified.
10 But the
angel said
to them,
“Do not be
afraid. I
bring you
good news
that will
cause
great joy
for all
the
people.
11 Today
in the
town of
David a
Savior has
been born
to you; he
is the
Messiah,
the Lord.
12 This
will be a
sign to
you: You
will find
a baby
wrapped in
cloths and
lying in a
manger.”
13 Suddenly a great
company of
the
heavenly
host
appeared
with the
angel,
praising
God and
saying,
14 “Glory to God in the
highest
heaven,
and on
earth
peace to
those on
whom his
favor
rests.”
15 When the angels had
left them
and gone
into
heaven,
the
shepherds
said to
one
another,
“Let’s go
to
Bethlehem
and see
this thing
that has
happened,
which the
Lord has
told us
about.”
16 So they hurried off and
found Mary
and
Joseph,
and the
baby, who
was lying
in the
manger.
17 When
they had
seen him,
they
spread the
word
concerning
what had
been told
them about
this
child,
18 and
all who
heard it
were
amazed at
what the
shepherds
said to
them.
19 But
Mary
treasured
up all
these
things and
pondered
them in
her heart.
20 The
shepherds
returned,
glorifying
and
praising
God for
all the
things
they had
heard and
seen,
which were
just as
they had
been told.
21 On the eighth day, when
it was
time to
circumcise
the child,
he was
named
Jesus, the
name the
angel had
given him
before he
was
conceived.
Jesus Presented in
the Temple
22 When the time came for
the
purification
rites
required
by the Law
of Moses,
Joseph and
Mary took
him to
Jerusalem
to present
him to the
Lord
23 (as
it is
written in
the Law of
the Lord,
“Every
firstborn
male is to
be
consecrated
to the
Lord”),
24 and to
offer a
sacrifice
in keeping
with what
is said in
the Law of
the Lord:
“a pair of
doves or
two young
pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in
Jerusalem
called
Simeon,
who was
righteous
and
devout. He
was
waiting
for the
consolation
of Israel,
and the
Holy
Spirit was
on him.
26 It had
been
revealed
to him by
the Holy
Spirit
that he
would not
die before
he had
seen the
Lord’s
Messiah.
27 Moved
by the
Spirit, he
went into
the temple
courts.
When the
parents
brought in
the child
Jesus to
do for him
what the
custom of
the Law
required,
28 Simeon
took him
in his
arms and
praised
God,
saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you
have
promised,
you
may now
dismiss
your
servant in
peace.
30 For
my eyes
have seen
your
salvation,
31 which
you have
prepared
in the
sight of
all
nations:
32 a
light for
revelation
to the
Gentiles,
and
the glory
of your
people
Israel.”
33 The child’s father and
mother
marveled
at what
was said
about him.
34 Then
Simeon
blessed
them and
said to
Mary, his
mother:
“This
child is
destined
to cause
the
falling
and rising
of many in
Israel,
and to be
a sign
that will
be spoken
against,
35 so that
the
thoughts
of many
hearts
will be
revealed.
And a
sword will
pierce
your own
soul too.”
36 There was also a
prophet,
Anna, the
daughter
of Penuel,
of the
tribe of
Asher. She
was very
old; she
had lived
with her
husband
seven
years
after her
marriage,
37 and
then was a
widow
until she
was
eighty-four.
She never
left the
temple but
worshiped
night and
day,
fasting
and
praying.
38 Coming
up to them
at that
very
moment,
she gave
thanks to
God and
spoke
about the
child to
all who
were
looking
forward to
the
redemption
of
Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary
had done
everything
required
by the Law
of the
Lord, they
returned
to Galilee
to their
own town
of
Nazareth.
40 And the
child grew
and became
strong; he
was filled
with
wisdom,
and the
grace of
God was on
him.
The Boy Jesus at
the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’
parents
went to
Jerusalem
for the
Festival
of the
Passover.
42 When he
was twelve
years old,
they went
up to the
festival,
according
to the
custom.
43 After
the
festival
was over,
while his
parents
were
returning
home, the
boy Jesus
stayed
behind in
Jerusalem,
but they
were
unaware of
it.
44 Thinking
he was in
their
company,
they
traveled
on for a
day. Then
they began
looking
for him
among
their
relatives
and
friends.
45 When
they did
not find
him, they
went back
to
Jerusalem
to look
for him.
46 After
three days
they found
him in the
temple
courts,
sitting
among the
teachers,
listening
to them
and asking
them
questions.
47 Everyone
who heard
him was
amazed at
his
understanding
and his
answers.
48 When
his
parents
saw him,
they were
astonished.
His mother
said to
him, “Son,
why have
you
treated us
like this?
Your
father and
I have
been
anxiously
searching
for you.”
49 “Why were you searching
for me?”
he asked.
“Didn’t
you know I
had to be
in my
Father’s
house?”
50 But
they did
not
understand
what he
was saying
to them.
51 Then he went down to
Nazareth
with them
and was
obedient
to them.
But his
mother
treasured
all these
things in
her heart.
52 And
Jesus grew
in wisdom
and
stature,
and in
favor with
God and
man.