The birth of the Lord Jesus
2
📚✭And it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, saying that all the world should be registered✭. 2 📚(This census was first taken when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own city.4 📚✭And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and line of David, 5 📚to be registered with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child.
6 📚And while they were there, it happened that the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 📚✭And she brought forth her firstborn, a son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 📚✭And there were in the same area shepherds staying in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 📚And suddenly an angel of the Lord✭ stood before them, and the glory✭ of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.
10 📚And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for, see, I bring you good tidings✭ of great joy, which shall be for all people. 11 📚✭For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord✭. 12 📚And this will be a sign to you: You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.
13 📚✭And suddenly there was with the angel a great number of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 📚✭“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men✭”.
15 📚And it so happened that when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us”.
16 📚And they hurried away, and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 📚✭And when they had seen him, they made known the word they had been told concerning this child. 18 📚And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 📚But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 📚✭And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen; it was just as it had been told to them.
The circumcision of Jesus
21 📚And when eight days were completed, at the circumcision✭ of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 📚And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 📚(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), 24 📚✭and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
The words of Simeon
25 📚✭And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit✭ was upon him. 26 📚And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 📚✭And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 📚he took him up in his arms and praised God, and said,
29 📚✭“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace,
according to your word,
30 📚✭for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 📚which you have prepared before the
face of all people,
32 📚✭a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel”.
33 📚✭And Joseph and his mother wondered at those things which were spoken by him.
34 📚✭And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, “Look, this child is destined for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against 35 📚✭(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”.
The prophetess Anna
36 📚✭And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, and had lived with a husband seven years from her marriage. 37 📚✭She was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not leave the temple, but served God with fastings✭ and prayers night and day. 38 📚✭And she, coming in at that instant, gave thanks✭ to the Lord, and spoke of him to all✭ those who looked for the redemption of Jerusalem✭.
The boy Jesus in Nazareth and Jerusalem
39 📚✭And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 📚✭And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41 📚Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover✭. 42 📚And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. 43 📚And when they had spent the full number of days, as they were returning, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother did not know it. 44 📚But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey, and then they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 And when they did not find him, they turned back again to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 📚✭And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 📚✭And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 📚✭And when they saw him, they were amazed, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you”.
49 📚✭And he said to them, “How is it that you have been looking for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”
50 📚✭And they did not understand the statement which he made to them. 51 📚✭And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was in subjection to them, but his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 📚✭And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.