耶稣降生伯利恒

那时,凯撒奥古斯都颁下谕旨,命罗马帝国的人民都办理户口登记。 这是第一次户口登记,正值居里纽任叙利亚总督。 大家都回到本乡办理户口登记。 约瑟因为是大卫家族的人,就从加利利的拿撒勒镇赶到犹太地区大卫的故乡伯利恒, 要和已许配给他、怀着身孕的玛丽亚一起登记。 他们抵达目的地时,玛丽亚产期到了, 便生下第一胎,是个儿子。她用布把孩子裹好,安放在马槽里,因为旅店没有房间了。

牧羊人和天使

当晚,伯利恒郊外有一群牧羊人正在看守羊群。 忽然,主的天使向他们显现,主的荣光四面照着他们,他们非常害怕。 10 天使对他们说:“不要怕!我告诉你们一个有关万民的大喜讯, 11 今天在大卫的城里有一位救主为你们降生了,祂就是主基督! 12 你们将看见一个婴孩包着布躺在马槽里,这就是给你们的记号。”

13 忽然,有一大队天军出现,与那天使一同赞美上帝说:

14 “在至高之处,
愿荣耀归于上帝!
在地上,
愿平安临到祂所喜悦的人!”

15 众天使离开他们升回天上之后,牧羊人便商议说:“我们现在去伯利恒,察看一下主刚才告诉我们的那件事吧!” 16 他们就连忙进城,找到了玛丽亚和约瑟以及躺在马槽里的婴孩。 17 他们看过之后,就把天使告诉他们有关这婴孩的事传开了。 18 听见的人都对牧羊人的话感到惊讶。

19 但玛丽亚把这些事牢记在心里,反复思想。 20 牧羊人在归途中不断地将荣耀归于上帝,赞美祂,因为他们的所见所闻跟天使告诉他们的一样。

奉献圣婴

21 在第八天,婴孩接受了割礼,祂的名字叫耶稣,是玛丽亚怀孕前天使取的。

22 摩西律法规定的洁净期满后,约瑟和玛丽亚把婴孩带到耶路撒冷去献给主, 23 因为主的律法规定:必须把长子分别出来献给主。 24 他们又按照主的律法献上祭物,即一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽。 25 耶路撒冷有一位公义敬虔、有圣灵同在的人名叫希缅,他一直期待着以色列的安慰者到来。 26 圣灵曾启示他:他去世前必能亲眼看见主所立的基督。

27 一天,他受圣灵感动进入圣殿,看见约瑟和玛丽亚抱着婴孩耶稣进来,要依照律法的规定为祂行奉献礼, 28 就把祂抱过来,称颂上帝说:

29 “主啊,现在你的话已经成就,
可以让你的奴仆安然离世了,
30 因为我已亲眼看到你的救恩,
31 就是你为万民所预备的救恩。
32 这救恩是启示外族人的光,
也是你以色列子民的荣耀。”

33 约瑟和玛丽亚听见这番话,感到惊奇。 34 希缅给他们祝福后,就对孩子的母亲玛丽亚说:“看啊,这孩子必使以色列许多人跌倒、许多人兴起。祂将成为众人攻击的对象, 35 好叫许多人的心思意念暴露出来,你自己则会心如刀割。”

36-37 亚设支派中有一位八十四岁高龄的女先知名叫亚拿,是法内利的女儿,婚后七年便开始守寡,之后一直住在圣殿里,禁食祷告,日夜事奉上帝。 38 正在那时,她也前来感谢上帝,并把耶稣的事报告给所有盼望耶路撒冷蒙救赎的人。

39 约瑟和玛丽亚办完了主的律法规定的一切事之后,就回到他们的家乡——加利利的拿撒勒。 40 耶稣渐渐长大,身心强健,充满智慧,上帝的恩典与祂同在。

少年耶稣圣殿论道

41 约瑟和玛丽亚每年都上耶路撒冷去过逾越节。 42 耶稣十二岁那年,跟父母照例上去过节。 43 节期完了,约瑟和玛丽亚便启程回家,他们并不知道少年耶稣仍然留在耶路撒冷, 44 还以为祂跟在同行的人中间。他们走了一天的路后,才开始在亲戚朋友中找祂, 45 结果没有找到,只好回到耶路撒冷。 46 三天后,他们才在圣殿里找到耶稣,祂正和教师们坐在一起,一边听一边问问题。 47 祂的知识和对答令听见的人感到惊奇。 48 约瑟和玛丽亚看见耶稣在那里,大为惊奇。

玛丽亚对祂说:“儿子,你为什么这样对我们呢?你父亲和我急得到处找你!”

49 耶稣对他们说:“你们为什么找我呢?难道你们不知道我应该在我父的家吗?” 50 但他们不明白祂在讲什么。

51 于是,耶稣随父母回到拿撒勒,并顺从他们。玛丽亚把这一切事牢记在心。 52 耶稣渐渐长大,智慧与日俱增,越来越受上帝和人们的喜爱。

Around the time of Elizabeth’s amazing pregnancy and John’s birth, the emperor in Rome, Caesar Augustus, required everyone in the Roman Empire to participate in a massive census— the first census since Quirinius had become governor of Syria. Each person had to go to his or her ancestral city to be counted.

This political background isn’t incidental: it is crucial to the story. Conquering nations in the ancient world work in various ways. Some brutally destroy and plunder the nations they conquer. Some conquer people as slaves or servants. Other empires allow the people to remain in their land and work as before, but with one major change: the conquered people have to pay taxes to their rulers. The purpose of a census like the one Luke de-scribes is to be sure that everyone is appropriately taxed and knows who is in charge.

4-5 Mary’s fiancé Joseph, from Nazareth in Galilee, had to participate in the census in the same way everyone else did. Because he was a descendant of King David, his ancestral city was Bethlehem, David’s birthplace. Mary, who was now late in her pregnancy that the messenger Gabriel had predicted, accompanied Joseph. While in Bethlehem, she went into labor and gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the baby in a blanket and laid Him in a feeding trough because the inn had no room for them.

Nearby, in the fields outside of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were guarding their flocks from predators in the darkness of night. Suddenly a messenger of the Lord stood in front of them, and the darkness was replaced by a glorious light—the shining light of God’s glory. They were terrified!

Messenger: 10 Don’t be afraid! Listen! I bring good news, news of great joy, news that will affect all people everywhere. 11 Today, in the city of David, a Liberator has been born for you! He is the promised Anointed One, the Supreme Authority! 12 You will know you have found Him when you see a baby, wrapped in a blanket, lying in a feeding trough.

13 At that moment, the first heavenly messenger was joined by thousands of other messengers—a vast heavenly choir. They praised God.

14 Heavenly Choir: To the highest heights of the universe, glory to God!
    And on earth, peace among all people who bring pleasure to God!

15 As soon as the heavenly messengers disappeared into heaven, the shepherds were buzzing with conversation.

Shepherds: Let’s rush down to Bethlehem right now! Let’s see what’s happening! Let’s experience what the Lord has told us about!

16 So they ran into town, and eventually they found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in the feeding trough. After they saw the baby, 17 they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. 18 Everyone who heard their story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. 19 Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted.

Here again is Luke’s fascination with disadvantaged people. Jesus’ first visitors are not ambassadors, dignitaries, or wealthy landowners. The first to pay Him homage are simple shepherds, minimum-wage workers in the ancient agrarian economy. They have little to no status in the world. They are the humble and the poor whom God is now raising up to receive heavenly messages and an audience with the great King. This theme recurs as the story continues.

21 Eight days after His birth, the baby was circumcised in keeping with Jewish religious requirements, and He was named Jesus, the name the messenger had given Him before His conception in Mary’s womb. 22 After Mary had observed the ceremonial days of postpartum purification required by Mosaic law, she and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. 23 They were fulfilling the Lord’s requirement that “every firstborn Israelite male will be dedicated to the Eternal One as holy.”[a] 24 They also offered the sacrifice required by the law of the Lord, “two turtledoves or two young pigeons.”[b]

25 While fulfilling these sacred obligations at the temple, they encountered a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was a just and pious man, anticipating the liberation of Israel from her troubles. He was a man in touch with the Holy Spirit. 26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Anointed One. 27 The Spirit had led him to the temple that day, and there he saw the child Jesus in the arms of His parents, who were fulfilling their sacred obligations. 28 Simeon took Jesus into his arms and blessed God.

29 Simeon: Now, Lord and King, You can let me, Your humble servant, die in peace.
30     You promised me that I would see with my own eyes
        what I’m seeing now: Your freedom,
31     Raised up in the presence of all peoples.
32     He is the light who reveals Your message to the other nations,
        and He is the shining glory of Your covenant people, Israel.

33 His father and mother were stunned to hear Simeon say these things. 34 Simeon went on to bless them both, and to Mary in particular he gave predictions.

Simeon: Listen, this child will make many in Israel rise and fall. He will be a significant person whom many will oppose. 35 In the end, He will lay bare the secret thoughts of many hearts. And a sword will pierce even your own soul, Mary.

36 At that very moment, an elderly woman named Anna stepped forward. Anna was a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for seven years before her husband died 37 and a widow to her current age of 84 years. She was deeply devoted to the Lord, constantly in the temple, fasting and praying. 38 When she approached Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, she began speaking out thanks to God, and she continued spreading the word about Jesus to all those who shared her hope for the rescue of Jerusalem.

39 After fulfilling their sacred duties according to the law of the Lord, Mary and Joseph returned with Jesus to their own city of Nazareth in the province of Galilee. 40 There Jesus grew up, maturing in physical strength and increasing in wisdom, and the grace of God rested on Him.

41 Every year during Jesus’ childhood, His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. 42 When Jesus was 12, He made the journey with them. 43 They spent several days there, participating in the whole celebration. When His parents left for home, Jesus stayed in Jerusalem, but Joseph and Mary were not aware. 44 They assumed Jesus was elsewhere in the caravan that was traveling together. After they had already traveled a full day’s journey toward home, they began searching for Him among their friends and relatives. 45 When no one had seen the boy, Mary and Joseph rushed back to Jerusalem and searched for Him.

46 After three days of separation, they finally found Him—sitting among a group of religious teachers in the temple—asking them questions, listening to their answers. 47 Everyone was surprised and impressed that a 12-year-old boy could have such deep understanding and could answer questions with such wisdom.

48 His parents, of course, had a different reaction.

Mary: Son, why have You treated us this way? Listen, Your father and I have been sick with worry for the last three days, wondering where You were, looking everywhere for You.

Jesus: 49 Why did you need to look for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be working for My Father?

Little is recorded about Jesus’ life between His birth and the age of 30. But this one episode tells so much. First, Jesus’ family life is a lot like anyone’s—full of mishaps and misunderstandings. Second, as Jesus enters young adulthood, He begins manifesting an extraordinary sense of identity. (Remember, a 12-year-old isn’t “just a kid” in Israel—he is becoming a man.) He isn’t just “Mary’s boy” or “Joseph’s stepson.” He has a direct relationship with God as His Father, and He knows His life will follow a path of working for God.

50 Neither Mary nor Joseph really understood what He meant by this. 51 Jesus went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother continued to store these memories like treasures in her heart. 52 And Jesus kept on growing—in wisdom, in physical stature, in favor with God, and in favor with others.

耶稣基督降生

就在那些日子里,凯撒奥古斯都颁布谕令,要普天下的人都登记户口[a] 这是头一次户口登记,在居里尼乌斯叙利亚总督的时候进行的。 于是众人都各回自己的城镇去登记。

约瑟也从加利利拿撒勒城上犹太去,到了那叫做伯利恒大卫之城,因为他是大卫一家一族的人。 他和已经许配给他[b]、怀有身孕的玛丽亚一起去登记。 他们在伯利恒的时候,玛丽亚的产期到了, 就生了她的头胎儿子。她用布把他包起来放在马槽里,因为客店里没有地方给他们。

牧羊人与天使们

当时在同一个地区,有些牧人露宿在野地里,夜间守更看守羊群。 这时候,主的一位天使站在他们旁边[c],主的荣光四面照射他们,他们就大为惊恐。 10 那位天使对他们说:“不要怕!因为看哪,我传给你们一个大喜的信息,是要给万民的。 11 今天,在大卫的城里,为你们诞生了一位救主,他就是主基督。 12 你们会看见一个婴孩,用布包着,躺在马槽里;这就是给你们的标记。”

13 忽然有一大队天军出现,与那位天使一起赞美神,说:

14 “在至高之处,荣耀归于神!
在地上,平安[d]临到他所喜悦的人!”

15 天使们离开他们往天上去了,[e]牧人就彼此说:“来,我们到伯利恒去,看看这件已成就的事,就是主让我们明白的事!”

16 于是他们急忙赶去,找到了玛丽亚约瑟和那躺在马槽里的婴孩。 17 他们看见以后,就把天使告诉他们有关这孩子的话传开了。 18 所有听见的人,对那些牧人告诉他们的事,都感到惊奇。 19 玛丽亚却把这一切事存在心里,反复思想。 20 那些牧人因为所见所闻的一切正如天使向他们所说的,就荣耀、赞美神,于是回去了。

耶稣受割礼

21 满了八天,为孩子行割礼的时候,他们就给他起名叫耶稣。这名字是他在母腹[f]成胎以前天使所起的。 22 按照摩西的律法,洁净的日子满了以后,约瑟玛丽亚领着孩子上耶路撒冷去,要把他献给主。 23 正如主的律法上所记载的:“所有头胎的男孩都将被称为圣归给主;”[g] 24 并按照主的律法上所说的,献上了“一对斑鸠或两只雏鸽”[h]为祭物。

西面的颂赞

25 看哪,在耶路撒冷有一个名叫西面的人。这个人又公义又虔诚,一直期待着以色列得蒙安慰;圣灵也在他身上。 26 他得了圣灵的启示:自己在经历死亡[i]以前会看见主的基督。 27 他受了圣灵的感动,来到圣殿。这时候,耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来,要按照律法的规矩为他办事。 28 西面把孩子抱在怀里,颂赞神说:

29 “主啊,
现在可以照你的话,
让你的奴仆平平安安地离去,
30 因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩,
31 就是你为万民[j]所预备的:
32 他是启示外邦人的光,
是你子民以色列的荣耀。”

33 他的父母[k]对这些关于孩子的话,感到惊奇。 34 西面祝福他们,并对孩子的母亲玛丽亚说:“看哪,这孩子注定要使以色列中许多人跌倒、许多人兴起,并要成为一个遭受反对的标记[l] 35 这样,许多人的心思意念将被显露出来;你自己的灵魂也要被剑刺透。”

安娜的见证

36 有一个女先知安娜,是亚设支派法努埃的女儿。她已经上了年纪,是出嫁以后与丈夫生活了七年的, 37 后来守寡了,现在已经[m]八十四岁。她从不离开圣殿,禁食祈祷,日夜事奉神。 38 就在这时候,她也上前来赞颂神[n],向所有期待着耶路撒冷得救赎的人[o]讲说这孩子的事。

返回拿撒勒

39 约瑟玛丽亚按照主的律法办完了一切事以后,就返回加利利,到自己的城拿撒勒去了。 40 那孩子渐渐长大,刚强[p]起来,充满智慧,并且有神的恩典在他身上。

耶稣在父家

41 每年逾越节,耶稣的父母都上耶路撒冷去。 42 当耶稣十二岁的时候,他们按照节日的规矩上去[q] 43 守完了节期,他们回去的时候,孩童耶稣仍然留在耶路撒冷,他的父母[r]却不知道, 44 以为他在同行的人群中。他们走了一天的路,才开始在亲戚和熟人中找他。 45 他们找不到他,就回到耶路撒冷去找。 46 到了第三天,他们发现耶稣在圣殿里,坐在教师们当中,一边听,一边问。 47 所有听他讲说的人,都对他的悟性和对答十分惊讶。 48 他的父母看见他,感到吃惊,他的母亲就对他说:“孩子啊,为什么对我们这样做呢?你看,你父亲和我一直在焦急地找你呢!”

49 耶稣对他们说:“你们为什么找我呢?难道不知道我必须在我父的家里[s]吗?” 50 可是他们没有领悟他对他们说的话。

神与人的喜爱

51 于是耶稣与他们一起下去,回到拿撒勒,一直服从他们。他的母亲把这一切事都珍藏在心里。 52 耶稣的智慧和身量,以及神和人对他的喜爱[t],都不断增长。

Footnotes

  1. 路加福音 2:1 户口——辅助词语。
  2. 路加福音 2:5 有古抄本附“做妻子”。
  3. 路加福音 2:9 站在他们旁边——或译作“向他们显现”。
  4. 路加福音 2:14 平安——或译作“和平”。
  5. 路加福音 2:15 有古抄本附“而那些人——”
  6. 路加福音 2:21 母——辅助词语。
  7. 路加福音 2:23 《出埃及记》13:2,12。
  8. 路加福音 2:24 《利未记》5:11;12:8。
  9. 路加福音 2:26 经历死亡——原文直译“见到死亡”。
  10. 路加福音 2:31 为万民——原文直译“在万民面前”。
  11. 路加福音 2:33 他的父母——有古抄本作“约瑟和孩子的母亲”。
  12. 路加福音 2:34 遭受反对的标记——或译作“被攻击的对象”。
  13. 路加福音 2:37 现在已经——有古抄本作“约”。
  14. 路加福音 2:38 神——有古抄本作“主”。
  15. 路加福音 2:38 期待着耶路撒冷得救赎的人——有古抄本作“在耶路撒冷期待救赎的人们”。
  16. 路加福音 2:40 刚强——有古抄本作“灵里刚强”。
  17. 路加福音 2:42 上去——有古抄本作“上耶路撒冷去”。
  18. 路加福音 2:43 他的父母——有古抄本作“约瑟和孩子的母亲”。
  19. 路加福音 2:49 在我父的家里——或译作“从事于我父的事”。
  20. 路加福音 2:52 神和人对他的喜爱——或译作“在神和人面前的喜爱”。

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(B) (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(C) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel(F) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.(G) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior(H) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(I) the Lord.(J) 12 This will be a sign(K) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace(L) to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.(M) 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.(N) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(O) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,(P) he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.(Q)

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(R) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]),(S) 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c](T)

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(U) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(V) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(W) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(X)
    you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.(Y)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(Z)
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”(AA)

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(AB) “This child is destined to cause the falling(AC) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet,(AD) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e](AE) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(AF) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(AG)

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(AH) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(AI)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.(AJ) 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(AK) at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother(AL) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father(AM) 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?”[f](AN) 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.(AO)

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them(AP) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(AQ) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before
  2. Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12
  3. Luke 2:24 Lev. 12:8
  4. Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
  5. Luke 2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years.
  6. Luke 2:49 Or be about my Father’s business