CHAPTER 2
Now
in
those
days
a decree
went out
from
Caesar
Augustus
that a census should be taken
of the
entire
Roman world.
So
Joseph
also
went up
from
Nazareth
in Galilee
to
Judea,
to
the City
of David
called
Bethlehem,
since
he
was
from
the house
and
line
of David.
He went there to register
with
Mary,
who was
pledged to him in marriage
and was expecting
a child.
And
she gave birth to
her
firstborn,
a Son.
She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths
and
laid
Him
in
a manger,
because
there was
no
room
for them
in
the
inn.
Just then,
an angel
of the Lord
stood before
them,
and
the glory
of the Lord
shone around
them,
and
they were terrified.
But
the
angel
said
to them,
“Do not
be afraid!
For
behold,
I bring you good news
of great
joy
that
will be
for all
the
people:
And
this will be
a
sign
to you:
You will find
a baby
wrapped in swaddling cloths
and
lying
in
a manger.”
And
suddenly
there appeared
with
the
angel
a great multitude
of the heavenly
host,
praising
God
and
saying:
When
the
angels
had left
them
and gone 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."
The
shepherds
returned,
glorifying
and
praising
God
for
all
they had heard
and
seen,
which was just as
the angel had told
them.
When
the eight
days
until
His
circumcision
had passed,
He was named
Jesus,
the
name
the
angel
had given Him
before
He
had been conceived.
And
when
the
time
of
purification
according to
the
Law
of Moses
was complete,
His parents brought
Him
to
Jerusalem
to present Him
to the
Lord
(as
it is written
in
the Law
of the Lord:
“Every
firstborn
male
shall be consecrated
to the
Lord”),
and
to offer
the sacrifice
specified
in
the
Law
of the Lord:
“A pair
of turtledoves
or
two
young
pigeons.”
Now
there was
a man
in
Jerusalem
named
Simeon,
who
was righteous
and
devout.
He was waiting for
the consolation
of Israel,
and
the Holy
Spirit
was
upon
him.
The
Holy
Spirit
had
revealed
to him
that he would not
see
death
before
he had seen
the
Lord’s
Christ.
Led by
the
Spirit,
he went
into
the
temple courts.
And
when
the
parents
brought in
the
child
Jesus
to do
for
Him
what was customary
under the
Law,
Then
Simeon
blessed
them
and
said
to
His
mother
Mary:
“Behold,
this Child
is appointed
to cause
the rise
and
fall
of many
in
Israel,
and
to be
a sign
that will be spoken against,
so that
the thoughts
of
many
hearts
will be revealed—
and
a sword
will pierce
your
soul
as well.”
There was
also
a prophetess
named Anna,
the daughter
of Phanuel,
of
the tribe
of Asher,
who
was well along
in
years.
She had been married
for seven
years,
and then
was a widow
to the age of
eighty-four.
She
never left
the
temple,
but worshiped
night
and
day,
fasting
and
praying.
Coming forward
at that
moment,
she
gave thanks
to God
and
spoke
about
the Child
to all
who
were waiting for
the redemption
of Jerusalem.
When
Jesus’ parents had done
everything
required by
the
Law
of the Lord,
they returned
to
Galilee,
to
their own
town
of Nazareth.
And
the
Child
grew
and
became strong.
He was filled
with wisdom,
and
the grace
of God
was
upon
Him.
When
those
days
were over
and
they
were returning home,
the
boy
Jesus
remained behind
in
Jerusalem,
but
His
parents
were unaware He had stayed.
Assuming
He
was
in
their
company,
they traveled on
for a day
before
they began to look
for Him
among
their
relatives
and
friends.
Finally,
after
three
days
they found
Him
in
the
temple courts,
sitting
among
the
teachers,
listening to
them
and
asking them questions.
When
His parents saw
Him,
they were astonished.
“Child,
why
have You done
this
to us?”
His
mother
asked.
“Your
father
and I
have been anxiously searching
for You.”
“Why
were you looking for
Me?”
He asked.
“Did you not know
that
I
had
to be
in
My
Father’s
house ?”
Then
He went down
to
Nazareth
with
them
and
was
subject
to them.
But
His
mother
treasured up
all
these
things
in
her
heart.