The Gospel According to St. Luke

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Matthew 1:18–25)

And it came to passe in those dayes, that there came a decree from Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be taxed.

(This first taxing was made when Cyrenius was gouernour of Syria.)

Therefore went all to be taxed, euery man to his owne Citie.

And Ioseph also went vp from Galile out of a citie called Nazareth, into Iudea, vnto the citie of Dauid, which is called Beth-leem (because he was of the house and linage of Dauid,)

To bee taxed with Marie that was giuen him to wife, which was with childe.

And so it was, that while they were there, the daies were accomplished that shee shoulde be deliuered,

And she brought foorth her first begotten sonne, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laide him in a cratch, because there was no roome for them in the ynne.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were in the same countrey shepheards, abiding in the fielde, and keeping watch by night ouer their flocke.

And loe, the Angel of the Lord came vpon them, and the glorie of the Lord shone about them, and they were sore afraide.

Then the Angel saide vnto them, Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you glad tidings of great ioy, that shalbe to all the people,

That is, that vnto you is borne this day in the citie of Dauid, a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shalbe a signe to you, Yee shall finde the babe swadled, and laid in a cratch.

And straightway there was with the Angel a multitude of heauenly souldiers, praising God, and saying,

Glory be to God in the high heauens, and peace in earth, and towards men good will.

And it came to passe whe the Angels were gone away from them into heauen, that the shepheards sayde one to another, Let vs goe then vnto Beth-leem, and see this thing that is come to passe which the Lord hath shewed vnto vs.

So they came with haste, and founde both Marie and Ioseph, and the babe laid in the cratch.

And when they had seene it, they published abroade the thing, that was tolde them of that childe.

And all that heard it, wondred at ye things which were tolde them of the shepheards.

But Mary kept all those sayings, and pondred them in her heart.

And the shepheardes returned glorifiyng and praising God, for all that they had heard and seene as it was spoken vnto them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

And when the eight daies were accomplished, that they shoulde circumcise the childe, his name was then called Iesus, which was named of the Angell, before he was conceiued in the wombe.

And when the daies of her purification after the Lawe of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Hierusalem, to present him to the Lord,

(As it is written in the Lawe of the Lord, Euery man childe that first openeth ye wombe, shalbe called holy to the Lord)

And to giue an oblation, as it is commanded in the Lawe of the Lord, a paire of turtle doues, or two yong pigeons.

The Prophecy of Simeon

And behold, there was a man in Hierusalem, whose name was Simeon: this man was iust, and feared God, and waited for the consolation of Israel, and the holy Ghost was vpon him.

And it was declared to him from God by the holy Ghost, that he shoulde not see death, before he had seene that Anointed of the Lord.

And he came by the motion of the spirit into the Temple, and when the parents brought in the babe Iesus, to do for him after the custome of the Lawe,

Then hee tooke him in his armes, and praised God, and sayd,

Lord, nowe lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace, according to thy woorde,

For mine eyes haue seene thy saluation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

A light to be reueiled to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

And Ioseph and his mother marueiled at those things, which were spoken touching him.

And Simeon blessed them, and saide vnto Mary his mother, Beholde, this childe is appointed for the fall and rising againe of many in Israel, and for a signe which shalbe spoken against,

(Yea and a sworde shall pearce through thy soule) that the thoughts of many heartes may be opened.

The Prophecy of Anna

And there was a Prophetesse, one Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, which was of a great age, after she had liued with an husband seuen yeeres from her virginitie:

And she was widowe about foure score and foure yeeres, and went not out of the Temple, but serued God with fastings and prayers, night and day.

She then coming at the same instant vpon them, confessed likewise the Lord, and spake of him to all that looked for redemption in Hierusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

(Matthew 2:19–23)

And when they had performed all thinges according to the lawe of the Lord, they returned into Galile to their owne citie Nazareth.

And the childe grewe, and waxed strong in Spirit, and was filled with wisedome, and the grace of God was with him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Nowe his parents went to Hierusalem euery yeere, at the feast of the Passeouer.

And when hee was twelue yeere olde, and they were come vp to Hierusalem, after the custome of the feast,

And had finished the dayes thereof, as they returned, the childe Iesus remained in Hierusalem, and Ioseph knew not, nor his mother,

But they supposing, that he had bene in the company, went a dayes iourney, and sought him among their kinsfolke, and acquaintance.

And when they found him not, they turned backe to Hierusalem, and sought him.

And it came to passe three dayes after, that they found him in the Temple, sitting in the mids of the doctours, both hearing them, and asking them questions:

And all that heard him, were astonied at his vnderstanding and answeres.

So when they sawe him, they were amased, and his mother said vnto him, Sonne, why hast thou thus dealt with vs? beholde, thy father and I haue sought thee with very heauie hearts.

Then said he vnto them, Howe is it that ye sought me? knewe ye not that I must goe about my Fathers busines?

But they vnderstoode not the word that he spake to them.

Then hee went downe with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subiect to them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

And Iesus increased in wisedome, and stature, and in fauour with God and men.

(Matthew 1:18–25)

Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

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,

to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

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.

The Shepherds and the Angels

There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

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.

For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ

(a)

the Lord.

This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

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.”

They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

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.

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

(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),(b)

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.”(c)

The Prophecy of Simeon

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.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.(d)

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,

then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

“Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.

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.

Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Prophecy of Anna

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,

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.

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.

The Return to Nazareth

(Matthew 2:19–23)

When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;

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,

but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

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.”

He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.

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.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Footnotes

(a)2:11 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)2:23 ℘ Exodus 13:2,12

(d)2:26 “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “Anointed One”