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^[a] the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know it,^{[b] 44} but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. And they began searching for^[c] him among their^[d] relatives and their^[e] acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they^[f] did not find him,^[g] they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶ And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple courts,^[h] 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^[i] answers. ⁴⁸ And when they^[j] 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^[k] were you searching for me? Did you not know that it was necessary for me to be in the house^[l] 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.