Now in those days a decree went out from the emperor ^1aCaesar Augustus, that ^ball the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be ²registered in a census. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of ^aSyria. 3 And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because ^ahe was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register with Mary, who was ¹betrothed to him, and was with child. Matt 1:18-25 6 While they were there in Bethlehem, the time came for her to give birth, 7 and she ^agave birth to her Son, her firstborn; and she wrapped Him in ¹swaddling cloths and laid Him in a ²manger, because there was no private room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And ^aan angel of the Lord suddenly ^bstood before them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “^aDo not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for ¹all the people. 11 For this day in the city of David there has been born for you a ^aSavior, who is ^bChrist ^cthe Lord (the Messiah) . Mic 5:2 12 And ^athis will be a sign for you by which you will recognize Him: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 1+@Sam 2:34; 2+@Kin 19:29; Is 7:14 13 Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (angelic army) praising God and saying,

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this wonderful thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child, 18 and all who heard it were astounded and wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary ^atreasured all these things, giving careful thought to them and pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, ^aglorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

21 At the end of ^aeight days, when He was to be circumcised, ^bHe was named Jesus, the name given to Him by the angel Gabriel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 ^aAnd when the time for their purification came that is, the mother’s purification and the baby’s dedication according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord set apart as the Firstborn Lev 12:1-4 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “^aEVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY set apart and dedicated TO THE LORD)” Ex 13:1, 2, 12; Num 8:17 24 and they came also to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord to be appropriate for a family of modest means, “^aA PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.” Lev 12:6-8

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was ^arighteous and devout carefully observing the divine Law, and ^blooking for the ¹Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 ^aIt had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^bdie before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) . 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple enclosure; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ^1ato do for Him the custom required by the Law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and praised and thanked God, and said,

33 And His legal father and His ^amother were amazed at what was said about Him. 34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary ^aHis mother, “Listen carefully: this Child is appointed and destined for ^bthe fall and rise of many in Israel, and for ¹a sign that is to be opposed— Is 8:14, 15 35 and a sword of deep sorrow will pierce through your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 There was a ^aprophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of ^bthe tribe of Asher. She was very old, ^cand had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, Josh 19:24 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the area of the temple, but was serving and worshiping night and day with ^afastings and prayers. 38 She, too, came up at that very moment and began praising and giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all who were ^alooking for the redemption and deliverance of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had done everything in connection with Jesus’ birth according to the Law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to ^atheir own city, Nazareth. 40 And ^athe Child continued to grow and become strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him. Judg 13:24

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year for ^athe Passover Feast. Deut 16:1-8; Ex 23:15 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning to ¹Nazareth, after ^aspending the required number of days at the Feast, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and traveled a day’s journey; and then they began searching anxiously for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for Him everywhere. 46 Three days later they found Him in the court of the temple, sitting among the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard Him ^awere amazed by His intelligence and His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were overwhelmed; and ^aHis mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us like this? Listen, ^bYour ¹father and I have been greatly distressed and anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He answered, “Why did you have to look for Me? Did you not know that I ^ahad to be ¹in My Father’s house?” 50 But ^athey did not understand what He had said to them. 51 He went down to ^aNazareth with them, and was continually submissive and obedient to them; and ^bHis mother ^ctreasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature, and in ^afavor with God and men. 1+@Sam 2:26

Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from ^aCaesar Augustus for a census to be taken of ^ball ¹the inhabited earth. 2 ¹This was the first census taken while ²Quirinius was governor of ^aSyria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because ^ahe was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she ^agave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ¹manger, because there was no place for them in the ²guest room.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And ^aan angel of the ¹Lord ^bstood before them, and the glory of the ²Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “^aDo not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^aSavior, who is ^1bChrist ^cthe Lord. 12 ^aAnd this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ¹manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

15 And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the ¹manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary ^awas treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, ^aglorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.

21 And when ^aeight days were fulfilled so that they could circumcise Him, ^bHis name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 ^aAnd when the days for their cleansing according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the ¹Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the ¹Lord, “^aEVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE ²LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the ¹Lord, “^aA PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”

25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was ^arighteous and devout, ^bwaiting for the ^1ccomfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And ^ait had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^bsee death before he had seen the ¹Lord’s ²Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus ^1ato carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

33 And His father and ^amother were marveling at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary ^aHis mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for ^bthe fall and ¹rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce through your own soul as well—that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a ^aprophetess, ¹Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of ^bthe tribe of Asher. She was advanced in ²years ^chaving lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with ^afastings and prayers. 38 And at that very ¹moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were ^awaiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 And when they had finished everything according to the Law of the ¹Lord, they returned to Galilee, to ^atheir own city of Nazareth. 40 ^aNow the Child continued to grow and become strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

41 And His parents would go to Jerusalem every year at ^athe Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after finishing the ^adays of the Feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents did not know. 44 But supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, and they began searching for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem searching for Him. 46 And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him ^awere astounded at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished, and ^aHis mother said to Him, “Child, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^bYour father and I ¹have been anxiously searching for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were searching for Me? Did you not know that ^aI had to be in My Father’s ¹house?” 50 But ^athey did not understand the statement which He had spoken to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to ^aNazareth, and He continued in subjection to them, and ^bHis mother ^cwas treasuring all these ¹things in her heart.

52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and ¹stature, and in ^afavor with God and men.