Luke 2
American Standard Version
2 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all [a]the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping [b]watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is [c]Christ the Lord. 12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
15 And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this [f]thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these [g]sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.
21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of their purification [h]according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, [i]Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, [j]A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. 25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Now lettest thou thy [k]servant depart, [l]Lord,
According to thy word, in peace;
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 A light for [m]revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of thy people Israel.
33 And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him; 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; 35 yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was [n]of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, [o]filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the [p]teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, [q]Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be [r]in my Father’s house? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these [s]sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and [t]stature, and in [u]favor with God and men.
Footnotes
- Luke 2:1 Greek the inhabited earth.
- Luke 2:8 Or, night-watches
- Luke 2:11 Or, Anointed Lord
- Luke 2:14 Many ancient authorities read peace, good pleasure among men.
- Luke 2:14 Greek men of good pleasure.
- Luke 2:15 Or, saying
- Luke 2:19 Or, things
- Luke 2:22 Lev. 12:2–6.
- Luke 2:23 Ex. 13:2, 12.
- Luke 2:24 Lev. 12:8; 5:11.
- Luke 2:29 Greek bondservant.
- Luke 2:29 Greek Master.
- Luke 2:32 Or, the unveiling of the Gentiles
- Luke 2:36 Greek advanced in many days.
- Luke 2:40 Greek becoming full of wisdom.
- Luke 2:46 Or, doctors. See 5:17; Acts 5:34.
- Luke 2:48 Greek Child.
- Luke 2:49 Or, about my Father’s business. Greek in the things of my Father.
- Luke 2:51 Or, things
- Luke 2:52 Or, age
- Luke 2:52 Or, grace
Luke 2
Lexham English Bible
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar[a] Augustus to register all the empire. 2 (This first registration took place when[b] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to be registered, each one to his own town. 4 So 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 family line of David, 5 to be registered together with Mary, who was legally promised in marriage to him and[c] was pregnant. 6 And it happened that while they were there, the time came[d] for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And there were shepherds in the same region, living out of doors and keeping watch, guarding over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened.[e] 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people: 11 that today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among people with whom he is pleased!”[f]
15 And it happened that when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began to say[g] to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has revealed to us!” 16 And they went hurrying and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 And when they[h] saw it,[i] they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child. 18 And all who heard it[j] were astonished concerning what had been said to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering them[k] in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
21 And when eight days were completed so that he could be circumcised,[l] he was named Jesus, his name that he was called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple
22 And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him[m] to the Lord 23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord”)[n] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”[o]
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was[p] Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to 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 see death before he would see the Lord’s Christ.[q] 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law, 28 he took him in his[r] arms and praised God and said,
29 “Now dismiss your slave in peace, Lord,
according to your word.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and mother were astonished at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed[s]— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul also, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed!”
The Testimony of Anna
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher (she was advanced in years,[t] having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,[u] 37 and herself as a widow up to eighty-four years)[v] who did not depart from the temple with fastings and prayers, serving night and day. 38 And at that same hour she approached and[w] began to give thanks[x] to God, and to speak about him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child was growing and becoming strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
Jesus in the Temple at Twelve Years Old
41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the feast. 43 And after[y] the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know it,[z] 44 but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for[aa] him among their[ab] relatives and their[ac] acquaintances, 45 and when they[ad] did not find him,[ae] they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts,[af] sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his insight and his[ag] answers. 48 And when they[ah] saw him, they were astounded and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you anxiously!” 49 And he said to them, “Why[ai] were you searching for me? Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house[aj] of my Father?” 50 And they did not understand the statement that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was submitting to them. And his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with people.
Footnotes
- Luke 2:1 Or “the emperor”
- Luke 2:2 Or perhaps “before”; here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was governor”)
- Luke 2:5 Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
- Luke 2:6 Literally “the days were completed”
- Luke 2:9 Literally “they were afraid with great fear”
- Luke 2:14 Literally “of good pleasure”
- Luke 2:15 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”)
- Luke 2:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:17 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:18 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:21 Literally “to circumcise him”
- Luke 2:22 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:23 An allusion to Exod 13:2, 12, 15
- Luke 2:24 A quotation from Lev 5:11; 12:8
- Luke 2:25 Literally “to whom the name”
- Luke 2:26 Or “Messiah”
- Luke 2:28 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 2:34 Or “rejected”
- Luke 2:36 Literally “with many days”
- Luke 2:36 Literally “from her virginity”
- Luke 2:37 Or “eighty-four years as a widow”
- Luke 2:38 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Luke 2:38 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to give thanks”)
- Luke 2:43 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were completed”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:43 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:44 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began searching for”)
- Luke 2:44 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 2:44 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- Luke 2:45 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:45 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Luke 2:46 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
- Luke 2:47 This is an understood repetition of “his” due to English style
- Luke 2:48 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
- Luke 2:49 Literally “what is it that”
- Luke 2:49 Or “things” (= business)
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