Luke 2
The Message
The Birth of Jesus
2 1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
An Event for Everyone
8-12 There were shepherds camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
Blessings
21 When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
22-24 Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law: “Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,” and also to sacrifice the “pair of doves or two young pigeons” prescribed in God’s Law.
25-32 In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God:
God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation;
it’s now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.
33-35 Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother,
This child marks both the failure and
the recovery of many in Israel,
A figure misunderstood and contradicted—
the pain of a sword-thrust through you—
But the rejection will force honesty,
as God reveals who they really are.
36-38 Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem.
39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.
They Found Him in the Temple
41-45 Every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.
46-48 The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.
His mother said, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”
49-50 He said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” But they had no idea what he was talking about.
51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.
Luke 2
Legacy Standard Bible
Jesus Is Born in Bethlehem
2 Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from (A)Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of (B)all [a]the inhabited earth. 2 [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of (C)Syria. 3 And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because (D)he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child. 6 Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth. 7 And she (E)gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no place for them in the [e]guest room.
8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And (F)an angel of the [f]Lord (G)stood before them, and the glory of the [g]Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “(H)Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. 11 For today in the city of David there has been born for you a (I)Savior, who is [h](J)Christ (K)the Lord. 12 (L)And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [i]manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
15 And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the [k]manger. 17 And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary (O)was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back, (P)glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
21 And when (Q)eight days were fulfilled so that they could circumcise Him, (R)His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 (S)And when the days for their cleansing according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the [l]Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the [m]Lord, “(T)Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the [n]Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the [o]Lord, “(U)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 (V)righteous and devout, (W)waiting for the [p](X)comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And (Y)it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (Z)see death before he had seen the [q]Lord’s [r]Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus [s](AA)to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now Master, You are releasing Your slave in peace,
(AB)According to Your word.
30 For my eyes have (AC)seen Your salvation,
31 Which You prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 (AD)A Light for revelation to the Gentiles,
And for the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and (AE)mother were marveling at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary (AF)His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for (AG)the fall and [t]rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce through your own soul as well—that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a (AH)prophetess, [u]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of (AI)the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [v]years (AJ)having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with (AK)fastings and prayers. 38 And at that very [w]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were (AL)waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had finished everything according to the Law of the [x]Lord, they returned to Galilee, to (AM)their own city of Nazareth. 40 (AN)Now the Child continued to grow and become strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 And His parents would go to Jerusalem every year at (AO)the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after finishing the (AP)days of the Feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents did not know. 44 But supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, and they began searching for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem searching for Him. 46 And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him (AQ)were astounded at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished, and (AR)His mother said to Him, “Child, why have You treated us this way? Behold, (AS)Your father and I [y]have been anxiously searching for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were searching for Me? Did you not know that (AT)I had to be in My Father’s [z]house?” 50 But (AU)they did not understand the statement which He had spoken to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to (AV)Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them, and (AW)His mother (AX)was treasuring all these [aa]things in her heart.
52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and [ab]stature, and in (AY)favor with God and men.
Footnotes
- Luke 2:1 The Roman empire
- Luke 2:2 Or This took place as a first census
- Luke 2:2 Gr Kyrenios
- Luke 2:7 Or feeding trough
- Luke 2:7 Gr kataluma, cf. 22:11; some versions inn
- Luke 2:9 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ex 40:34; 2 Kin 1:3
- Luke 2:9 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ex 40:34; 2 Kin 1:3
- Luke 2:11 Messiah
- Luke 2:12 Or feeding trough
- Luke 2:14 Or of good will; lit of good pleasure
- Luke 2:16 Or feeding trough
- Luke 2:22 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Lev 14:11
- Luke 2:23 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 19:7; Ex 13:2
- Luke 2:23 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 19:7; Ex 13:2
- Luke 2:24 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 19:7
- Luke 2:25 Or consolation
- Luke 2:26 In OT, Yahweh, cf. 1 Sam 2:10
- Luke 2:26 Messiah
- Luke 2:27 Lit to do for Him according to
- Luke 2:34 Or resurrection
- Luke 2:36 Or Hannah
- Luke 2:36 Lit days
- Luke 2:38 Lit hour
- Luke 2:39 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 19:7
- Luke 2:48 Lit are anxiously looking
- Luke 2:49 Or affairs; lit in the things of My Father
- Luke 2:51 Lit words
- Luke 2:52 Or age
Luke 2
New King James Version
Christ Born of Mary(A)
2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 (B)This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to (C)the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (D)because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, (E)his betrothed [a]wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And (F)she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a [b]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And [c]behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, (G)and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, (H)“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy (I)which will be to all people. 11 (J)For there is born to you this day in the city of David (K)a Savior, (L)who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [d]manger.”
13 (M)And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [f]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 (Q)But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and (R)praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Circumcision of Jesus
21 (S)And when eight days were completed [g]for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called (T)Jesus, the name given by the angel (U)before He was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 Now when (V)the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (W)(as it is written in the law of the Lord, (X)“Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, (Y)“A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, (Z)waiting for 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 (AA)see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came (AB)by the Spirit into the temple. And when 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 blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, (AC)now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes (AD)have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 (AE)A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 [h]And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the (AF)fall and rising of many in Israel, and for (AG)a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, (AH)a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of (AI)Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow [i]of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers (AJ)night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to [j]the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who (AK)looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
The Family Returns to Nazareth
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 (AL)And the Child grew and became strong [k]in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars
41 His parents went to (AM)Jerusalem (AN)every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the (AO)custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the (AP)days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And [l]Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And (AQ)all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be (AR)about (AS)My Father’s business?” 50 But (AT)they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was [m]subject to them, but His mother (AU)kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus (AV)increased in wisdom and stature, (AW)and in favor with God and men.
Footnotes
- Luke 2:5 NU omits wife
- Luke 2:7 feed trough
- Luke 2:9 NU omits behold
- Luke 2:12 feed trough
- Luke 2:14 NU toward men of goodwill
- Luke 2:17 NU omits widely
- Luke 2:21 NU for His circumcision
- Luke 2:33 NU And His father and mother
- Luke 2:37 NU until she was eighty-four
- Luke 2:38 NU God
- Luke 2:40 NU omits in spirit
- Luke 2:43 NU His parents
- Luke 2:51 obedient
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
