| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. The Shepherds and Angels |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Jesus Is Presented in the Temple |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.” |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” The Prophecy of Simeon |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30I have seen your salvation, |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31which you have prepared for all people. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” The Prophecy of Anna |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. Jesus Speaks with the Teachers |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. |
| 47[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. |
| 48[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 48His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” |
| 49[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” |
| 50[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 50But they didn’t understand what he meant. |
| 51[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 51Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. |
| 52[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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