1 Naqueles dias, o imperador Augusto decretou um recenseamento em todo o império romano. 2 (Esse foi o primeiro recenseamento realizado quando Quirino era governador da Síria.) 3 Todos voltaram à cidade de origem para se registrar. 4 Por ser descendente do rei Davi, José viajou da cidade de Nazaré da Galileia para Belém, na Judeia, terra natal de Davi, 5 levando consigo Maria, sua noiva, que estava grávida.

6 E, estando eles ali, chegou a hora de nascer o bebê. 7 Ela deu à luz seu primeiro filho, um menino. Envolveu-o em faixas de pano e deitou-o numa manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.

8 Naquela noite, havia alguns pastores nos campos próximos, vigiando rebanhos de ovelhas. 9 De repente, um anjo do Senhor apareceu entre eles, e o brilho da glória do Senhor os cercou. Ficaram aterrorizados, 10 mas o anjo lhes disse: "Não tenham medo! Trago boas notícias, que darão grande alegria a todo o povo. 11 Hoje em Belém, a cidade de Davi, nasceu o Salvador, que é Cristo, o Senhor! 12 Vocês o reconhecerão por este sinal: encontrarão o bebê enrolado em faixas de pano, deitado numa manjedoura".

13 De repente, juntou-se ao anjo uma grande multidão do exército celestial, louvando a Deus e dizendo:

14 "Glória a Deus nos mais altos céus,

e paz na terra àqueles de que Deus se agrada!".

15 Quando os anjos voltaram para o céu, os pastores disseram uns aos outros: "Vamos a Belém para ver esse acontecimento que o Senhor nos anunciou".

16 Indo depressa ao povoado, encontraram Maria e José, e lá estava o bebê, deitado na manjedoura. 17 Depois de o verem, os pastores contaram a todos o que o anjo tinha dito a respeito da criança, 18 e todos que ouviam a história dos pastores ficavam admirados. 19 Maria, porém, guardava todas essas coisas no coração e refletia sobre elas. 20 Os pastores voltaram, glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo que tinham visto e ouvido. Tudo aconteceu como o anjo lhes havia anunciado.

21 Oito dias depois, quando o bebê foi circuncidado, chamaram-no Jesus, o nome que o anjo lhe tinha dado antes mesmo de ele ser concebido.

22 Então chegou o tempo da oferta de purificação, como era a exigência da lei de Moisés. Seus pais o levaram a Jerusalém para apresentá-lo ao Senhor, 23 pois a lei do Senhor dizia: "Se o primeiro filho for menino, será consagrado ao Senhor". 24 Assim, ofereceram o sacrifício exigido pela lei do Senhor: "duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos".

25 Naquela época, vivia em Jerusalém um homem chamado Simeão. Ele era justo e devoto, e esperava ansiosamente pela restauração de Israel. O Espírito Santo estava sobre ele 26 e lhe havia revelado que ele não morreria enquanto não visse o Cristo enviado pelo Senhor. 27 Nesse dia, o Espírito o conduziu ao templo. Assim, quando Maria e José chegaram para apresentar o menino Jesus ao Senhor, como a lei exigia, 28 Simeão tomou a criança nos braços e louvou a Deus, dizendo:

29 "Soberano Deus, agora podes levar em paz o teu servo,

como prometeste.

30 Vi a tua salvação,

31 que preparaste para todos os povos.

32 Ele é uma luz de revelação às nações

e é a glória do teu povo, Israel!".

33 Os pais de Jesus ficaram admirados com o que se dizia a respeito dele. 34 Então Simeão os abençoou e disse a Maria, a mãe do bebê: "Este menino está destinado a provocar a queda de muitos em Israel, mas também a ascensão de tantos outros. Foi enviado como sinal de Deus, mas muitos resistirão a ele. 35 Como resultado, serão revelados os pensamentos mais profundos de muitos corações, e você sentirá como se uma espada lhe atravessasse a alma".

36 A profetisa Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser, também estava no templo. Era muito idosa e havia perdido o marido depois de sete anos de casados 37 e vivido como viúva até os 84 anos. Nunca deixava o templo, adorando a Deus dia e noite, em jejum e oração. 38 Chegou ali naquele momento e começou a louvar a Deus. Falava a respeito da criança a todos que esperavam a redenção de Jerusalém.

39 Após cumprirem todas as exigências da lei do Senhor, os pais de Jesus voltaram para casa em Nazaré, na Galileia. 40 Ali o menino foi crescendo, saudável e forte. Era cheio de sabedoria, e o favor de Deus estava sobre ele.

41 Todos os anos, os pais de Jesus iam a Jerusalém para a festa da Páscoa. 42 Quando Jesus completou doze anos, foram à festa, como de costume. 43 Terminada a celebração, partiram de volta para Nazaré, mas Jesus ficou para trás, em Jerusalém, sem que seus pais notassem sua falta. 44 Pensaram que ele estivesse entre os demais viajantes, mas depois de caminharem um dia inteiro começaram a procurá-lo entre os parentes e amigos.

45 Como não o encontravam, voltaram a Jerusalém para procurá-lo. 46 Por fim, depois de três dias, acharam Jesus no templo, sentado entre os mestres da lei, ouvindo-os e fazendo perguntas. 47 Todos que o ouviam se admiravam de seu entendimento e de suas respostas.

48 Quando o viram, seus pais ficaram perplexos. Sua mãe lhe disse: "Filho, por que você fez isso conosco? Seu pai e eu estávamos aflitos, procurando você por toda parte".

49 "Mas por que me procuravam?", perguntou ele. "Não sabiam que eu devia estar na casa de meu Pai?" 50 Não entenderam, porém, o que ele quis dizer.

51 Então voltou com os pais para Nazaré, e lhes era obediente. Sua mãe guardava todas essas coisas no coração.

52 Jesus crescia em sabedoria, em estatura e no favor de Deus e das pessoas.

1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, "Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough." 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,

on earth peace, good will toward men."

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up 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 that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master,

according to your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations,

and the glory of your people Israel."

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him. 34 Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?" 50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.