Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

 1In 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.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

 4So 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. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to
be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be
born, 7and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields
nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of
the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby
wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 13Suddenly a great company of the
heavenly host appeared with the angel, 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's go to Bethlehem and
see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

 16So they hurried off and found Mary
and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning
what had been told them about this child, 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 the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

 21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him,
he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been
conceived.

 22When the time of their purification
according to the Law of Moses had been completed, 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"^[b]), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said
in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."^[c]

 25Now 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 upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he
would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved 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, 28Simeon took him in his
arms and praised God, saying:
 29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
      you
now dismiss^[d]
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
marveled at what was said about him. 34Then 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, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

 36There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived
with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[e] She never left the
temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming 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.

 39When Joseph and Mary 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.