The Birth of Jesus Christ
In those days aa decree went out from bCaesar Augustus that all the world should be cregistered. 2 This was the first aregistration when Quirinius bwas governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up afrom Galilee, from the town of bNazareth, to Judea, to cthe city of David, which is called dBethlehem, ebecause he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And awhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and awrapped him in swaddling cloths and blaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in cthe inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord aappeared to them, and bthe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all athe people. 11 For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord. 12 And athis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby bwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel aa multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 a“Glory to God bin the highest,
band on earth cpeace damong those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into 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.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby alying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But aMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, aglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And aat the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, bhe was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22 And awhen the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem bto present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in athe Law of the Lord, b“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in athe Law of the Lord, b“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was arighteous and bdevout, cwaiting for dthe 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 asee death before he had seen bthe Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when athe 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 ablessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart ain peace,
baccording to your word;
30 for amy eyes have seen your bsalvation
31 athat you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 aa light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and bfor glory to cyour people Israel.”
33 And ahis father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed afor the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign bthat is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was aa prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, aworshiping with bfasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were awaiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to athe Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of bNazareth. 40 aAnd the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Now ahis parents went bto Jerusalem every year at cthe Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, athey went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast awas ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. bHis parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, asitting among bthe teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, ayour father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that aI must be in bmy Father’s house?” 50 And athey did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And ahis mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus aincreased in wisdom and in stature and in afavor with God and man.