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Luke 2 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

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The Birth of Jesus Christ

(Mat 1:18–25 )
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:1 - In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:2 - This was the first registration when[fn] Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:3 - And all went to be registered, each to his own town.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:4 - And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:5 - to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[fn] who was with child.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:6 - And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:7 - And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[fn]

The Shepherds and the Angels

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:8 - And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:9 - And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:10 - And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:11 - For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:12 - And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:13 - And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:14 - “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:15 - When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:16 - And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:17 - And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:18 - And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:19 - But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:20 - And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:21 - And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:22 - And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:23 - (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:24 - and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:25 - Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:26 - And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:27 - And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:28 - he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:29 - “Lord, now you are letting your servant[fn] depart in peace,
according to your word;
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:30 - for my eyes have seen your salvation
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:31 - that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:32 - a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:33 - And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:34 - And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:35 - (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:36 - And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:37 - and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[fn] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:38 - And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:39 - And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:40 - And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:41 - Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:42 - And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:43 - And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:44 - but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:45 - and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:46 - After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:47 - And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:48 - And when his parents[fn] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:49 - And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:50 - And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:51 - And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Unchecked Copy BoxLuk 2:52 - And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[fn] and in favor with God and man.
ESV Footnotes
Or This was the registration before
That is, one legally pledged to be married
Or guest room
Some manuscripts peace, good will among men
Or bondservant
Or as a widow for eighty-four years
Greek they
Or about my Father’s business
Or years
ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Books and Bibles, a Publishing Ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

See detailed copyright information.

For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

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