Luke 2:41-3:9

New King James Version

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars

⁴¹ His parents went to ^(A)Jerusalem ^(B)every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the ^(C)custom of the feast. ⁴³ When they had finished the ^(D)days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And ^[a]Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was 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 ^(E)all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be ^(F)about ^(G)My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But ^(H)they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor

⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was ^[b]subject to them, but His mother ^(I)kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus ^(J)increased in wisdom and stature, ^(K)and in favor with God and men.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(L)

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, ^(M)Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, ^2 [c]while ^(N)Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to ^(O)John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. ^3 (P)And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance ^(Q)for the remission of sins, ⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:

John Preaches to the People^(T)

⁷ Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, ^(U)“Brood^[d] of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore bear fruits ^(V)worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ⁹ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore ^(W)every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”