In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the
world should be registered. This was the first registration when
Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered,
each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from
the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And
while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she
gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths
and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in
the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear
not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be
for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for
you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in
a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
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.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby
lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying
that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it
wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all
these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and
seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was
called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived
in the womb.
And when the time came for their purification according to the
Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to
the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who
first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to
offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord,
“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man
in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and
devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit
was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom
of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about
him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold,
this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through
your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be
revealed.”
And there was a 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, and then as a widow
until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at
that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him
to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything according to the Law of
the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of
Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.
And the favor of God was upon him.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the
Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according
to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know
it, 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, and when they did not find him, they returned to
Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in
the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and
asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his
understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they
were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you
treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for
you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking
for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And
they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he
went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to
them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with
God and man.
