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