1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the entire inhabited world should be registered.
2This was the first registration, taken while Quirinius was governing Syria.
3So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4Joseph 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 lineage of David,
5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was pregnant.
6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guest room.
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
10And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11For today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord.
12And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
17And when they saw him, they made known the message that had been told them concerning this child.
18And all who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
21And when eight days were completed for his circumcision, his name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22And when the days for their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, 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 first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25Now 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.
26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27Led by the Spirit, he came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law,
28he himself took him into his arms and blessed God and said,
29“Sovereign Lord, now you are releasing your servant in peace, according to your word;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33And his father and mother were marveling at the things being said about him.
34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35—and a sword will pierce your own soul also—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, worshiping with fastings and prayers night and day.
38And coming up at that very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40And the child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41Now his parents would go to Jerusalem every year for the festival of the Passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.
43And after they had completed the days of the festival, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know it.
44But supposing him to be in the caravan, they went a day’s journey. Then they began searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
49And he said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
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