Luke 2:29-52 ▼

29 “Now You send Your servant away, O LORD, according to Your word, in peace,

30 because my eyes saw Your salvation,

31 which You prepared before the face of all the peoples,

32 a light to the uncovering of nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And Joseph and His mother were wondering at the things spoken concerning Him,

34 and Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this [One] is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against—

35 (and also a sword will pass through your own soul)—that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, she was much advanced in days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

37 and she [is] a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving with fasts and supplications, night and day,

38 and she, at that hour, having come in, was confessing, likewise, to the LORD, and was speaking concerning Him to all those looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 And when they completed all things according to the Law of the LORD, they turned back to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth;

40 and the Child grew and was strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him.

41 And His parents were going yearly to Jerusalem, at the Celebration of the Passover,

42 and when He became twelve years old, they having gone up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the celebration,

43 and having finished the days, in their returning the child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His mother did not know,

44 and having supposed Him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and were seeking Him among the relatives and among the acquaintances,

45 and having not found Him, they turned back to Jerusalem seeking Him.

46 And it came to pass, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them,

47 and all those hearing Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

48 And having seen Him, they were amazed, and His mother said to Him, “Child, why did You do this to us? Behold, Your father and I, sorrowing, were seeking You.”

49 And He said to them, “Why [is it] that you were seeking Me? Did you not know that it is necessary for Me to be in the things of My Father?”

50 And they did not understand the saying that He spoke to them,

51 and He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and He was subject to them, and His mother was keeping all these sayings in her heart,

52 and Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and men.