Luke 2:25-52

English Standard Version

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was ^(A)righteous and ^(B)devout, ^(C)waiting for ^(D)the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^(E)see death before he had seen ^(F)the Lord's Christ. ²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when ^(G)the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and ^(H)blessed God and said,

³³ And ^(Q)his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed ^(R)for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign ^(S)that is opposed ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶ And there was ^(T)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, ³⁷ and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.^[b] She did not depart from the temple, ^(U)worshiping with ^(V)fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were ^(W)waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

³⁹ And when they had performed everything according to ^(X)the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of ^(Y)Nazareth. ^40 (Z)And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

⁴¹ Now ^(AA)his parents went ^(AB)to Jerusalem every year at ^(AC)the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, ^(AD)they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast ^(AE)was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. ^(AF)His parents did not know it, 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, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, ^(AG)sitting among ^(AH)the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents^[c] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, ^(AI)your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that ^(AJ)I must be in ^(AK)my Father's house?”^{[d] 50} And ^(AL)they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And ^(AM)his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus ^(AN)increased in wisdom and in stature^[e] and in ^(AO)favor with God and man.