Luke 2:22-40

New Testament for Everyone

²² When the time came for them to be purified according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him before the Lord. ²³ That’s what the law of the Lord says: “Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord.” ²⁴ They also came to offer sacrifice, according to what it says in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout, waiting for God to comfort Israel, and the holy spirit was upon him. ²⁶ He had been told by the holy spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Led by the spirit, he came into the Temple. As Jesus’ parents brought him in, to do for him what the law’s regulations required, ²⁸ he took the baby in his arms and blessed God with these words:

³³ His father and mother were astonished at the things that were said about him. ³⁴ Simeon blessed them.

“Listen,” he said to Mary his mother, “this child has been placed here to make many in Israel fall and rise again, and as a sign that will be spoken against ³⁵ (yes, a sword will go through your own soul as well), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be disclosed.”

³⁶ There was also a prophetess called Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having been widowed after a seven-year marriage, ³⁷ and was now eighty-four. She never left the Temple, but worshiped with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ She came up at that moment and gave thanks to God, and spoke about Jesus to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹ So when they had finished everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The child grew and became strong, and was full of wisdom, and God’s grace was upon him.