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Luke 2

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole inhabited world should be registered. 2This was the first registration, when Quirinius was governing Syria. 3Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4Joseph too went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to David's city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5to be registered with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was pregnant. 6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7She bore her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the lodging place.

8In the same region there were shepherds living out in the fields and keeping the night watches over their flock. 9An angel of the Lord stood before them, and the Lord's glory shone around them, and they were terribly afraid. 10The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for look: I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people, 11because today in David's city a Savior has been born for you, who is Messiah and Lord. 12This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and 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, and on earth peace among people of his favor!”

15When the angels had left them for heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16They hurried there and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. 17When they saw him, they made known what they had been told about this child. 18All who heard marveled at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

21When eight days were completed and it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord,” 24and to give a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25And look: there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, 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 see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 28he took him into his arms, blessed God, and said, 29“Now you are releasing your slave, Master, according to your word, in peace, 30because my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples: 32a light for revelation to the nations and glory for your people Israel.”

33His father and mother were marveling at what was said about him. 34Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Look: this child is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against 35—and a sword will pass through your own soul too—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband for seven years after her virginity, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not leave the temple, serving God with fasts and prayers night and day. 38Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to God and spoke about him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town, Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and God's favor was upon him.

41His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the festival custom. 43When the days were completed and they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know it. 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey and began looking for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, 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. His mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look: your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.” 49He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50But they did not understand the saying he spoke to them. 51He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.

Translation notes 9

2:1–2 — Registration and Quirinius. “The whole inhabited world” reflects the decree's imperial scope. The connection with Quirinius presents a historical difficulty; the text is not rewritten to resolve it. “Before Quirinius was governing Syria” is a proposed translation, but the normal time construction favors “when.”

2:7 — Lodging and birth. The Greek word can describe a lodging place or guest room; it does not require a commercial inn. “Feeding trough” is the familiar manger. Luke does not mention an innkeeper or say that Mary went into labor immediately on arriving. “Firstborn” does not by itself settle whether she later had other children.

2:11, 14 — Messiah and favor. “Messiah and Lord” expresses the two titles in the Greek. At verse 14, “his” identifies God's favor as the intended sense. Another textual reading gives “and on earth peace, goodwill among people.”

2:22–23 — Purification and the firstborn. The Greek base says “their purification,” although the childbirth purification law specifically concerns the mother. The plural is retained without supplying an explanation. “Opens the womb” describes a firstborn male.

2:25–32 — Consolation, slave, and nations. “Consolation of Israel” is the hoped-for comfort and restoration of Israel. Simeon's “Master” and “slave” retain the relationship expressed in Greek. “Nations” here refers to the Gentiles.

2:33, 43, 48 — Father and parents. These are Luke's own descriptions. Some witnesses replace “his father” in verse 33 with “Joseph,” and “his parents” in verse 43 with “Joseph and his mother.”

2:34–35 — Falling, rising, and the sword. The wording does not specify whether the same people fall and rise or whether different groups are in view. The sword saying is set off as an aside to Mary, without moving it from its Greek position or limiting it to a named event.

2:36–37 — Anna's age. The Greek may instead mean that Anna had been a widow for eighty-four years, making her considerably older. The present wording takes eighty-four as her age, a provisional choice. “After her virginity” describes the start of her married life.

2:49, 52 — His Father's house and growth. “House” is supplied to complete an elliptical Greek expression. “About my Father's affairs” is a significant alternative. At verse 52, “stature” may also mean “age”; Luke describes Jesus' growth without explaining its relation to his identity.