The Birth of Jesus

¹ Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.² This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And everyone went to his own town to register.

⁴ So 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. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

⁶ While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. ⁷ And 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

⁸ And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby,^* keeping watch over their flocks by night. ⁹ Just then an angel of the Lord stood before 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! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: ¹¹ Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! ¹² And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ And 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!”^*

¹⁵ When 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.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. 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 they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

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

²² And 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”), ²⁴ and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

The Prophecy of Simeon

²⁵ Now 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. ²⁶ The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ Led 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, ²⁸ Simeon took^* Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,

You now dismiss^* Your servant in peace.

³⁰ For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

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

³² a light for revelation^* to the Gentiles,

and for glory to Your people Israel.”

³³ The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:

“Behold, this Child is appointed to cause

the rise^* and fall 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 soul as well.”

The Prophecy of Anna

³⁶ There 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, ³⁷ and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

³⁸ Coming 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

³⁹ When Jesus’ parents 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 upon Him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.

⁴³ When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. ⁴⁴ Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.

⁴⁵ When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. ⁴⁶ Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

⁴⁸ When 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?”⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

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

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