Now in those
days
a decree
went
out from aCaesar
Augustus
, that a census
be taken
of ball
1the inhabited
earth
.
1This was the first
census
taken
while 2Quirinius
was governor
of aSyria
.
And everyone was on his way
to register
for the census
, each
to his own
city
.
Joseph also
went
up from Galilee
, from the city
of Nazareth
, to Judea
, to the city
of David
which
is called
Bethlehem
, because
ahe was of the house
and family
of David
,
in order to register along
with Mary
, who was engaged
to him, and was with child
.
While they were there
, the days
were completed
for her to give
birth
.
And she agave birth
to her firstborn
son
; and she wrapped
Him in cloths
, and laid
Him in a 1manger
, because
there was no
room
for them in the inn
.
In the same region
there were some shepherds
staying
out in the fields
and keeping
watch
over
their flock
by night
.
And aan angel of the Lord
suddenly bstood
before
them, and the glory
of the Lord
shone
around
them; and they were terribly
frightened
.
But the angel said
to them, " aDo not be afraid
; for behold
, I bring
you good
news
of great
joy
which
will be for all
the people
;
for today in the city
of David
there has been born
for you a aSavior
, who
is 1 bChrist
cthe Lord
.
" aThis will be a sign
for you: you will find
a baby
wrapped
in cloths
and lying
in a 1manger
."
And suddenly there appeared
with the angel
a multitude
of the heavenly
host
praising
God
and saying
,
" aGlory to God
in the highest
, And on earth
peace
among
men
1 bwith whom He is pleased
."
When the angels
had gone
away
from them into heaven
, the shepherds
began saying
to one
another
, "Let us go
straight
to Bethlehem
then
, and see
this
thing
that has happened
which
the Lord
has made
known
to us."
So they came
in a hurry
and found
their way
to Mary
and Joseph
, and the baby
as He lay
in the 1manger
.
When they had seen this, they made
known
the statement
which had been told
them about
this
Child
.
And all who heard
it wondered
at the things which were told
them by the shepherds
.
But Mary atreasured
all
these
things
, pondering
them in her heart
.
The shepherds went
back
, aglorifying
and praising
God
for all
that they had heard
and seen
, just
as had been told
them.
And when aeight
days
had passed
, 1before His circumcision
, bHis name
was then called
Jesus
, the name
given
by the angel
before
He was conceived
in the womb
.
aAnd when the days
for their purification
according
to the law
of Moses
were completed
, they brought
Him up to Jerusalem
to present
Him to the Lord
(as it is written in the Law
of the Lord
, " aEVERY
firstborn MALE
THAT OPENS
THE WOMB
SHALL BE CALLED
HOLY
TO THE LORD
"),
and to offer a sacrifice
according
to what was said
in the Law
of the Lord
, " aA PAIR
OF TURTLEDOVES
OR
TWO
YOUNG
PIGEONS
."
And there was a man in Jerusalem
whose
name
was Simeon
; and this
man
was arighteous
and devout
, blooking
for the consolation
of Israel
; and the Holy
Spirit
was upon him.
And ait had been revealed
to him by the Holy
Spirit
that he would not bsee
death
before
he had seen
the Lord's
1Christ
.
And he came in the Spirit
into the temple
; and when
the parents
brought
in the child
Jesus
, 1 ato carry
out for Him the custom
of the Law
,
then he took
Him into his arms
, and blessed
God
, and said
,
"Now Lord
, You are releasing
Your bond-servant
to depart
in peace
, aAccording
to Your word
;
For my eyes have aseen
Your salvation
,
Which You have prepared
in the presence
of all
peoples
,
aA LIGHT 1OF REVELATION
TO THE GENTILES
, And the glory
of Your people
Israel
."
And His father and amother
were amazed
at the things which were being said
about
Him.
And Simeon blessed
them and said
to Mary
aHis mother
, "Behold
, this
Child is appointed
for bthe fall
and 1rise
of many
in Israel
, and for a sign
to be opposed
--
and a sword will pierce
even
your own
soul
--to the end
that thoughts
from many
hearts
may be revealed
."
And there was a aprophetess, 1Anna
the daughter
of Phanuel
, of bthe tribe
of Asher
. She was advanced
in 2years
cand had lived
with her husband
seven
years
after
her 3marriage
,
and then as a widow to the age
of eighty-four
. She never
left
the temple
, serving
night
and day
with afastings
and prayers
.
At that very 1moment
she came
up and began giving
thanks
to God
, and continued to speak
of Him to all
those
who were alooking
for the redemption
of Jerusalem
.
When they had performed
everything
according
to the Law
of the Lord
, they returned
to Galilee
, to atheir own
city
of Nazareth
.
aThe Child continued to grow
and become
strong
, 1increasing
in wisdom
; and the grace
of God
was upon Him.
Now His parents went
to Jerusalem
every
year
at athe Feast
of the Passover
.
And when He became
twelve
, they went
up there according
to the custom
of the Feast
;
and as they were returning, after spending
the afull
number
of days
, the boy
Jesus
stayed
behind
in Jerusalem
. But His parents
were unaware
of it,
but supposed Him to be in the caravan
, and went
a day's
journey
; and they began looking
for Him among
their relatives
and acquaintances
.
When they did not find Him, they returned
to Jerusalem
looking
for Him.
Then, after
three
days
they found
Him in the temple
, sitting
in the midst
of the teachers
, both
listening
to them and asking
them questions
.
And all who heard
Him awere amazed
at His understanding
and His answers
.
When they saw Him, they were astonished
; and aHis mother
said
to Him, " 1Son
, why
have You treated
us this
way
? Behold
, bYour father
and I 2have been anxiously
looking
for You."
And He said to them, "Why
is it that you were looking
for Me? Did you not know
that aI had
to be in My Father's
1house?"
But athey did not understand the statement
which
He 1had made
to them.
And He went down
with them and came
to aNazareth
, and He continued in subjection
to them; and bHis mother
ctreasured
all
these 1things
in her heart
.
And Jesus kept increasing
in wisdom
and 1stature
, and in afavor
with God
and men
.