The Return to Nazareth

¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel^(A) of the Lord appeared in a dream^(B) to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”^(C)

²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream,^(D) he withdrew to the district of Galilee,^{(E) 23} and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.^(F) So was fulfilled^(G) what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.^(H)

⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.^(A)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.^{(B) 42} When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed^(C) at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother^(D) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father^(E) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^{[a](F) 50} But they did not understand what he was saying to them.^(G)

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them^(H) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.^{(I) 52} And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.^(J)

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit^[a];^(A) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.