Gospel according to Luke 2

¹ Now at this time Caesar Augustus[*a] issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken.

² This census – the first[*b] – took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria,

³ and everyone went to his own town to be registered.

⁴ So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line,

⁵ in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

⁶ While they were there the time came for her have her child,

⁷ and she birth to a son, her first born.[*c] She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.

⁸ In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night.

⁹ The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified,

¹⁰ but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.

¹¹ Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

¹² And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’

¹³ And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:

¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour’

¹⁵ Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us’.

¹⁶ So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

¹⁷ When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him,

¹⁸ and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say.

¹⁹ As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.

²¹ When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

²² And when the day came for them to be purified[*d] as laid down by the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord-

²³ observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord[*e]-

²⁴ and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons[*f]

²⁵ Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him.

²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord[*g]

²⁷ Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required,

²⁸ he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

²⁹ ‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised;

³⁰ because my eyes have seen the salvation

³¹ which you have prepared for all the nations to see,

³² a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel’.

³³ As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him,

³⁴ Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected-

³⁵ and a sword will pierce your own soul too-so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare’.

³⁶ There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years

³⁷ before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.

³⁸ She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem[*h].

³⁹ When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

⁴⁰ Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

⁴¹ Every year his parents used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual.

⁴³ When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it.

⁴⁴ They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances.

⁴⁵ When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.

⁴⁶ Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions;

⁴⁷ and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies.

⁴⁸ They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for

⁴⁹ ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’

⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he meant.

⁵¹ He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.