Luk 2 | ESV | STEP | In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered .

1 In those days ^aa decree went out from ^bCaesar Augustus that all the world should be ^cregistered. 2 This was the first ^dregistration when ^{▼▼Or This was the registration before} Quirinius ^fwas governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up ^gfrom Galilee, from the town of ^hNazareth, to Judea, to ⁱthe city of David, which is called ^jBethlehem, ^kbecause he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, ^{▼▼That is, one legally pledged to be married} who was with child. 6 And ^mwhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ⁿwrapped him in swaddling cloths and ^olaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ^pthe inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord ^qappeared to them, and ^rthe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all ^sthe people. 11 For ^tunto you is born this day in ^uthe city of David ^va Savior, who is ^wChrist ^xthe Lord. 12 And ^ythis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby ^zwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel ^aaa multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 ^ab“Glory to God ^acin the highest,
^adand on earth ^aepeace ^afamong those with whom he is pleased!” ^{▼▼Some manuscripts peace, good will among men}

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby ^ahlying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But ^aiMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, ^ajglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And ^akat the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, ^alhe was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

22 And ^amwhen the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem ^anto present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in ^aothe Law of the Lord, ^ap“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in ^aqthe Law of the Lord, ^ar“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was ^asrighteous and ^atdevout, ^auwaiting for ^avthe 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 ^awsee death before he had seen ^axthe Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when ^aythe 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 ^azblessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant ^{▼▼Greek bondservant} depart ^bbin peace,
^bcaccording to your word;
30 for ^bdmy eyes have seen your ^besalvation
31 ^bfthat you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 ^bga light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and ^bhfor glory to ^biyour people Israel.”

33 And ^bjhis father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed ^bkfor the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign ^blthat is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was ^bma prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. ^{▼▼Or as a widow for eighty-four years} She did not depart from the temple, ^boworshiping with ^bpfasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were ^bqwaiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to ^brthe Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of ^bsNazareth. 40 ^btAnd the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now ^buhis parents went ^bvto Jerusalem every year at ^bwthe Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, ^bxthey went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast ^bywas ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. ^bzHis parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, ^casitting among ^cbthe teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents ^{▼▼Greek they} saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, ^cdyour father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that ^ceI must be in ^cfmy Father’s house?” ^{▼▼Or about my Father’s business} 50 And ^chthey did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And ^cihis mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus ^cjincreased in wisdom and in stature ^{▼▼Or years} and in ^clfavor with God and man.