Luke 2:1-32 ▼

1 Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.

2 It was the first registration made during the governorship of Quirinius in Syria;

3 and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged.

4 So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.

6 But while they were there, her full time came,

7 and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were shepherds in the same part of the country, keeping watch over their sheep by night in the open fields,

9 when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were filled with terror.

10 But the angel said to them, "Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy for all the People.

11 For a Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David.

12 And this is the token for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

13 And immediately there was with the angel a multitude of the army of Heaven praising God and saying,

14 "Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!"

15 Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 So they made haste and came and found Mary and Joseph, with the babe lying in the manger.

17 And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;

18 and all who listened were astonished at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, often dwelling on them in her mind.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made to them.

21 When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb.

22 And when the days for their purification appointed by the Law of Moses had passed, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord--

23 as it is written in the Law of the Lord: "Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord."

24 And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons."

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Symeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed One.

27 Led by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do with regard to Him according to the custom of the Law,

28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 "Now, O Sovereign Lord, Thou dost send Thy servant away in peace, in fulfilment of Thy word,

30 Because mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,

31 Which Thou hast made ready in the sight of all nations--

32 A light to shine upon the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel."