[1] Now it came about in those days that an order went out from Caesar
Augustus that there was to be a numbering of all the world. [2] This was
the first numbering, which was made when Quirinius was ruler of Syria. [3]
And all men went to be numbered, everyone to his town. [4] And Joseph went
up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judaea, to Beth-lehem,
the town of David, because he was of the house and family of David, [5] To
be put on the list with Mary, his future wife, who was about to become a
mother. [6] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
[7] And she had her first son; and folding him in linen, she put him to
rest in the place where the cattle had their food, because there was no
room for them in the house. [8] And in the same country there were keepers
of sheep in the fields, watching over their flock by night. [9] And an
angel of the Lord came to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining round
about them: and fear came on them. [10] And the angel said, Have no fear;
for truly, I give you good news of great joy which will be for all the
people: [11] For on this day, in the town of David, a Saviour has come to
birth, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this is the sign to you: you will
see a young child folded in linen, in the place where the cattle have their
food. [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a great band of spirits
from heaven, giving praise to God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the
highest, and on the earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased.
[15] And when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the keepers
of the sheep said to one another, Let us go now to Beth-lehem, and see this
thing which has come about, which the Lord has made clear to us. [16] And
they came quickly, and saw Mary and Joseph, and the child in the place
where the cattle had their food. [17] And when they saw it, they gave them
an account of the things which had been said to them about the child. [18]
And all those to whose ears it came were full of wonder at the things said
by the keepers of the sheep. [19] But Mary kept all these words in her
heart, and gave much thought to them. [20] Then the keepers of the sheep
went back, giving glory and praise to God for all the things which had come
to their ears and which they had seen, as it had been said to them. [21]
And when, after eight days, the time came for his circumcision, he was
named Jesus, the name which the angel had given to him before his birth.
[22] And when the necessary days for making them clean by the law of Moses
had come to an end, they took him to Jerusalem to give him to the Lord [23]
(As it says in the law of the Lord, Every mother's first male child is to
be holy to the Lord), [24] And to make an offering, as it is ordered in the
law of the Lord, of two doves or other young birds. [25] And there was then
in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and he was an upright man,
fearing God and waiting for the comfort of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was
on him. [26] And he had knowledge, through the Holy Spirit, that he would
not see death till he had seen the Lord's Christ. [27] And full of the
Spirit he came into the Temple; and when the father and mother came in with
the child Jesus, to do with him what was ordered by the law, [28] Then he
took him in his arms and gave praise to God and said, [29] Now you are
letting your servant go in peace, O Lord, as you have said; [30] For my
eyes have seen your salvation, [31] Which you have made ready before the
face of all nations; [32] A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the
glory of your people Israel. [33] And his father and mother were full of
wonder at the things which were said about him. [34] And Simeon gave them
his blessing and said to Mary, his mother, See, this child will be the
cause of the downfall and the lifting up of great numbers of people in
Israel, and he will be a sign against which hard words will be said; [35]
(And a sword will go through your heart;) so that the secret thoughts of
men may come to light. [36] And there was one, Anna, a woman prophet, the
daughter of Phanuel, of the family of Asher (she was very old, and after
seven years of married life [37] She had been a widow for eighty-four
years); she was in the Temple at all times, worshipping with prayers and
going without food, night and day. [38] And coming up at that time, she
gave praise to God, talking of him to all those who were waiting for the
freeing of Jerusalem. [39] And when they had done all the things which were
ordered by the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to Nazareth, the
town where they were living. [40] And the child became tall and strong and
full of wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. [41] And every year his
father and mother went to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. [42] And
when he was twelve years old, they went up, as their way was, to the feast;
[43] And when the days of the feast came to an end and they were going
back, the boy Jesus was still in Jerusalem, but they had no knowledge of
it: [44] And in the belief that he was with some of their number, they went
a day's journey; and after looking for him among their relations and
friends, [45] And seeing that he was not there, they went back to
Jerusalem, to make search for him. [46] And after three days they came
across him in the Temple, seated among the wise men, giving ear to their
words and putting questions to them. [47] And all to whose ears it came
were full of wonder at his knowledge and the answers which he gave. [48]
And when they saw him they were surprised, and his mother said to him, Son,
why have you done this to us? see, your father and I have been looking for
you with sorrow. [49] And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? was
it not clear to you that my right place was in my Father's house? [50] And
his words seemed strange to them. [51] And he went down with them and came
to Nazareth; and did as he was ordered: and his mother kept all these words
in her heart. [52] And Jesus was increasing in wisdom and in years, and in
grace before God and men.
