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41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”

49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

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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.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 2:43 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were completed”) which is understood as temporal
  2. Luke 2:43 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Luke 2:44 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began searching for”)
  4. Luke 2:44 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  5. Luke 2:44 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  6. Luke 2:45 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“find”) which is understood as temporal
  7. Luke 2:45 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  8. Luke 2:46 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  9. Luke 2:47 This is an understood repetition of “his” due to English style
  10. Luke 2:48 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  11. Luke 2:49 Literally “what is it that”
  12. Luke 2:49 Or “things” (= business)