The Birth of Jesus Christ
1 In those days Acts 17:7a decree went out from [ch. 3:1] Caesar Augustus that all the world should be [Acts 5:37]registered. 2 This was the first [See ver. 1above] registration when2:2 Or This was the registration before Quirinius ch. 3:1was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up ch. 1:26from Galilee, from the town of See Matt. 2:23Nazareth, to Judea, to ver. 11;John 7:42;[1 Sam. 16:1] the city of David, which is called Matt. 2:1Bethlehem, ch. 1:27because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married who was with child. 6 And [See ver. 4above]while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ver. 12wrapped him in swaddling cloths and ver. 16laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ch. 22:11(Gk.)the inn.2:7 Or guest room
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 ch. 24:4;Acts 12:7appeared to them, and ch. 9:31;Acts 7:55;2 Cor. 3:18the 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 ver. 2:32;John 11:50;[Zech. 9:9]the people. 11 For Isa. 9:6unto you is born this day in ver. 4the city of David Matt. 1:21;John 4:42a Savior, who is Acts 2:36;10:36;[ch. 23:2]; See Matt. 1:17Christ [ch. 1:43]the Lord. 12 And 1 Sam. 2:34;2 Kgs. 19:29;20:8,9;Isa. 7:11,14this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby ver. 7wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel Gen. 28:12;32:1,2;1 Kgs. 22:19;2 Chr. 18:18;Ps. 103:21;148:2;Dan. 7:10;Rev. 5:11a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 ch. 19:38;[Ps. 148:1;Matt. 21:9] "Glory to God [ch. 10:21;Matt. 6:10;28:18;John 17:4;Acts 7:49;Eph. 3:15;Col. 1:16,20;Rev. 5:13] in the highest,
[ch. 10:21;Matt. 6:10;28:18;John 17:4;Acts 7:49;Eph. 3:15;Col. 1:16,20;Rev. 5:13] and on earth ch. 1:79;Ps. 85:10;Isa. 9:6,7;Hag. 2:9;Acts 10:36;Rom. 5:1;Eph. 2:14,17;Col. 1:20peace [ch. 3:22;12:32;Eph. 1:5,9;Phil. 2:13]among those with whom he is pleased!"2:14 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men
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 ver. 2:7,12lying 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 ver. 2:51;[ch. 1:66;Gen. 37:11]Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, See ch. 7:16glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21 And See ch. 1:59at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, ch. 1:31;Matt. 1:21,25he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22 And Lev. 12;[ver. 21, 27; Gal. 4:4] when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem [1 Sam. 1:22,24]to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in ver. 2:39;Ex. 13:9;2 Chr. 31:3the Law of the Lord, [Ex. 13:2,12]"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 [See ver. 23above] the Law of the Lord, Cited from Lev. 12:8"a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was ch. 1:6righteous and Acts 2:5;8:2;22:12devout, ver. 2:38;ch. 23:51;Isa. 25:9;Mark 15:43;[Gen. 49:18] waiting for Isa. 40:1;57:18the 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 Ps. 89:48;John 8:51;Heb. 11:5;[Acts 2:27] see death before he had seen [ch. 9:20;23:35;1 Sam. 24:6]the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when ver. 2:33,41,43,48-51the 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 ch. 1:64blessed God and said,
29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant2:29 Or bondservant depart Gen. 15:15in peace,
ver. 2:26according to your word;
30 for Isa. 52:10my eyes have seen your See ch. 3:6salvation
31 Ps. 98:2;See ch. Luke 24:47that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 Isa. 42:6;49:6;52:10;60:3;John 8:12;Acts 13:47;26:23a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and [Isa. 45:25;46:13] for glory to ver. 10your people Israel."
33 And ver. 27his 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 [Isa. 8:14;Matt. 21:44;John 9:39;1 Cor. 1:23,24;2 Cor. 2:16;1 Pet. 2:8,9] for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign Acts 28:22that 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 See Ex. 15:20a 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.2:37 Or as a widow for eighty-four years She did not depart from the temple, 1 Tim. 5:5worshiping with ch. 5:33;Matt. 6:16-18;Acts 13:2;14:23;2 Cor. 6:5;11:27fasting 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 ver. 2:25;See ch. 1:68waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to ver. 23the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of ver. 4Nazareth. 40 ch. 1:80And 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 ver. 2:27his parents went [1 Sam. 1:3] to Jerusalem every year at Ex. 23:15;Deut. 16:1;John 2:13the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, John 11:55they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast Ex. 12:15;Lev. 23:8;Deut. 16:3was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. [See ver. 2:41above]His 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, See Matt. 26:55sitting among ch. 5:17the 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 parents2:48 Greek they saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, ver. 27;[ver. 49]your 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 See ch. 13:33I must be in John 2:16;14:2my Father’s house?"2:49 Or about my Father’s business50 And [ch. 18:34]; See Mark 9:32they 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 See ver. 19his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus [1 Sam. 2:26]increased in wisdom and in stature2:52 Or years and in [1 Sam. 2:26]favor with God and man.