1At that time, Emperor Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3Everyone went to their own town to register.
4So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and family of David.
5He went there to register with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and was pregnant.
6While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.
7She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8In the same region, there were shepherds staying in the fields and watching over their flock at night.
9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very afraid.
10But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Listen, I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.
11Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12This is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”
13Suddenly, a large group of angels from heaven appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem right now and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16They hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17When they saw him, they spread the word widely about what had been told to them concerning this child.
18Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19But Mary thought deeply about everything that was said, keeping it all in her heart.
20The shepherds returned, praising and worshiping God for everything they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.
21When eight days had passed and it was time for the child’s circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
22When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24and to offer a sacrifice as stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. This man was good and devoted to God, eagerly waiting for the comforting of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When Jesus’ parents brought him in to do for him what the Law required,
28Simeon took him into his arms, praised God, and said,
29“Now, Lord, you are letting your servant depart in peace, as you promised;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared for all people to see;
32a light to reveal you to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.”
33Joseph and his mother were amazed at what was said about him.
34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise, and to be a sign that will be opposed.
35And a sword will pierce your own soul too, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,
37and then had been a widow for about eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshiped God with fasting and prayer night and day.
38Coming up at that very moment, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke about the child to everyone who was looking for Jerusalem’s redemption.
39After they had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40The child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on him.
41Every year, his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.
42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem as they always did for the festival.
43When the days of the festival were over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents, Joseph and Mary, did not realize it,
44but assuming he was with the group, they traveled for a day. Then they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him.
46After three days, they found him in the Temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Your father and I have been frantically searching for you."
49He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
50But they did not understand what he was telling them.
51Then he went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52Jesus grew in wisdom and in physical maturity, and in favor with God and people.