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The Gospel According to St. Luke

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- Chapter 2 -

(Matthew 1:18–25)
1
Around that time Caesar Augustus sent out an official order that every person living under Roman rule must be registered in a public record.
2
This first happened during the time that Quirinius was governing the province of Syria.
3
So everyone had to go to his family’s hometown to be registered.
4
Joseph also traveled to his family’s hometown, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. Because Joseph was a descendant of King David, they left the town of Nazareth in the region of Galilee and traveled to the region of Judea, to the town of Bethlehem, which is also known as the city of David.
5
Joseph and Mary went there to be registered in the public record.
6
When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay in a place where visitors usually stayed. So they had to stay in a place where animals slept overnight.
7
While they were there the time came for Mary to give birth and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in wide strips of cloth and laid him down where the food was kept for the animals inside the barn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8
That night, there were some shepherds who were taking care of their sheep in the fields near Bethlehem.
9
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them. A bright light shone all around them, showing the Lord’s glory. So they became very afraid.
10
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I have come to tell you good news, which will benefit all people and will make you all very happy!
11
Today, in the city of David, a baby has been born who will save you from your sins! He is the Messiah, the Lord!
12
This is how you will recognize him: In Bethlehem you will find a baby who has been wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feeding place for animals.”
13
Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, saying,
14
“May all the angels in the highest heaven praise God! And may there be peace on earth among people who are pleasing to God!”
15
After the angels left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “We should go right now to Bethlehem to see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!”
16
So they went quickly and when they had found the place where Mary and Joseph were staying, they saw the baby lying in a feeding place for animals.
17
After seeing him, they told everyone what had been told to them about this child.
18
All the people who heard what the shepherds said to them were amazed.
19
But Mary kept thinking about all the things she had heard and carefully remembered them.
20
The shepherds returned to the fields where their sheep were. They kept talking about how great God is and praising him for all the things that they had heard and seen, because everything happened exactly like the angels had told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

21
Eight days later, it was the day when the baby was circumcised, and they gave him the name Jesus. This was the name the angel had told them to give him, even before he was conceived.
22
When the required number of days for their purification had gone by, according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph traveled up to Jerusalem to dedicate their son to the Lord.
23
It had been written in the law of the Lord, “Every male offspring that is the first to be born will be set apart to be holy to the Lord.”
24
The law of the Lord also said the parents of a newborn son must offer as a sacrifice: “two turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

The Prophecy of Simeon

25
At that time there was an old man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He did what was pleasing to God and obeyed God’s laws. He was eagerly waiting for God to send the Messiah to encourage the Israelite people, and the Holy Spirit was directing him.
26
The Holy Spirit had previously revealed to him that he would see the Lord’s promised Messiah before he died.
27
When Joseph and Mary brought their baby, Jesus, to the temple in order to perform the rituals that God had commanded in his laws, the Spirit led Simeon to enter the temple courtyard.
28
Then he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying,
29
“Lord, you have made me content and I can now die in peace according to your promise.
30
I have seen the one whom you sent to save people,
31
the one you prepared in the midst of all the peoples.
32
He will be like a light that will reveal your truth to the Gentiles, and he will bring honor to the Israelite people.”
33
Jesus’ father and mother were very amazed at what Simeon said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus’ mother, Mary,
34
“Note what I say: God has determined that because of this child, many Israelite people will turn away from God, and many others will turn to God. He will be like a sign to warn people, and many people will oppose him.
35
As a result, the thoughts of many people will be made evident. A sword will also pierce your own soul.”

The Prophecy of Anna

36
There was also in the temple courtyard a prophetess named Anna who was very old. Her father Phanuel was a member of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for seven years and then her husband died.
37
After that, she lived eighty-four more years as a widow. She was always serving in the temple area and worshiped God night and day. She often fasted and prayed.
38
At that very moment, Anna came up to them and began thanking God for the baby. Then she spoke about Jesus to many people who were expecting God to redeem Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

(Matthew 2:19–23)
39
After Joseph and Mary had finished doing everything required of them by the laws of the Lord, they returned to their own town, Nazareth, in the district of Galilee.
40
As the child grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
42
So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem for the festival as they always did.
43
When all the days for the festival had ended, his parents started to return home, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know he was still there.
44
They assumed that he was with the other people who were traveling with them. After walking a whole day’s journey, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.
45
When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.
46
After three days, they found him in the temple courtyard, sitting in the midst of the Jewish religious teachers. He was listening to them teach, and he was asking them questions.
47
All the people who heard what he said were amazed at how much he understood and how well he answered the questions that the teachers asked.
48
When his parents saw him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him, “My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried as we have been searching for you!”
49
He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I needed to be involved in what my Father does?”
50
But they did not understand the meaning of what he said to them.
51
Then he returned with them to Nazareth and he always obeyed them. His mother kept thinking deeply about all those things.
52
As the years passed, Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more.
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(Matthew 1:18–25)
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.

The Shepherds and the Angels

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 (a) 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.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

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”),(b)
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.”(c)

The Prophecy of Simeon

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.(d)
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.”

The Prophecy of Anna

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.

The Return to Nazareth

(Matthew 2:19–23)
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.

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

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.

Footnotes

(a)2:11 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
(b)2:23 ℘ Exodus 13:2,12
(c)2:24 ℘ Leviticus 12:8
(d)2:26 “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “Anointed One”
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