2:8 Now 16 there were shepherds 17 nearby 18 living out in the field, keeping guard 19 over their flock at night. 2:9 An 20 angel of the Lord 21 appeared to 22 them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. 23 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, 24 for I proclaim to you good news 25 that brings great joy to all the people: 2:11 Today 26 your Savior is born in the city 27 of David. 28 He is Christ 29 the Lord. 2:12 This 30 will be a sign 31 for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 32 2:13 Suddenly 33 a vast, heavenly army 34 appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
2:14 “Glory 35 to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among people 36 with whom he is pleased!” 37
2:15 When 38 the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem 39 and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord 40 has made known to us.” 2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. 41 2:17 When 42 they saw him, 43 they related what they had been told 44 about this child, 2:18 and all who heard it were astonished 45 at what the shepherds said. 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. 46 2:20 So 47 the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising 48 God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told. 49
2:21 At 50 the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel 51 before he was conceived in the womb.
2:22 Now 52 when the time came for their 53 purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary 54 brought Jesus 55 up to Jerusalem 56 to present him to the Lord 2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male 57 will be set apart to the Lord” 58 ), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves 59 or two young pigeons. 60
2:25 Now 61 there was a man in Jerusalem 62 named Simeon who was righteous 63 and devout, looking for the restoration 64 of Israel, and the Holy Spirit 65 was upon him. 2:26 It 66 had been revealed 67 to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die 68 before 69 he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 70 2:27 So 71 Simeon, 72 directed by the Spirit, 73 came into the temple courts, 74 and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 75 2:28 Simeon 76 took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, 77
2:29 “Now, according to your word, 78 Sovereign Lord, 79 permit 80 your servant 81 to depart 82 in peace.
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation 83
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: 84
2:32 a light, 85
for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory 86 to your people Israel.”
2:33 So 87 the child’s 88 father 89 and mother were amazed 90 at what was said about him. 2:34 Then 91 Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Listen carefully: 92 This child 93 is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising 94 of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. 95 2:35 Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts 96 of many hearts will be revealed 97 – and a sword 98 will pierce your own soul as well!” 99
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, 100 having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. 101 She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 102 2:38 At that moment, 103 she came up to them 104 and began to give thanks to God and to speak 105 about the child 106 to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 107
2:39 So 108 when Joseph and Mary 109 had performed 110 everything according to the law of the Lord, 111 they returned to Galilee, to their own town 112 of Nazareth. 113 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, 114 filled with wisdom, 115 and the favor 116 of God 117 was upon him.
2:41 Now 118 Jesus’ 119 parents went to Jerusalem 120 every 121 year for the feast of the Passover. 122 2:42 When 123 he was twelve years old, 124 they went up 125 according to custom. 2:43 But 126 when the feast was over, 127 as they were returning home, 128 the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His 129 parents 130 did not know it, 2:44 but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) 131 they went a day’s journey. Then 132 they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 133 2:45 When 134 they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem 135 to look for him. 2:46 After 136 three days 137 they found him in the temple courts, 138 sitting among the teachers, 139 listening to them and asking them questions. 2:47 And all who heard Jesus 140 were astonished 141 at his understanding and his answers. 2:48 When 142 his parents 143 saw him, they were overwhelmed. His 144 mother said to him, “Child, 145 why have you treated 146 us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” 147 2:49 But 148 he replied, 149 “Why were you looking for me? 150 Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 151 2:50 Yet 152 his parents 153 did not understand 154 the remark 155 he made 156 to them. 2:51 Then 157 he went down with them and came to Nazareth, 158 and was obedient 159 to them. But 160 his mother kept all these things 161 in her heart. 162
2:52 And Jesus increased 163 in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.