Luke 2:11-40
New King James Version
11 (A)For there is born to you this day in the city of David (B)a Savior, (C)who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a [a]manger.”
13 (D)And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made [c]widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 (H)But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and (I)praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Circumcision of Jesus
21 (J)And when eight days were completed [d]for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called (K)Jesus, the name given by the angel (L)before He was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 Now when (M)the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (N)(as it is written in the law of the Lord, (O)“Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, (P)“A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, (Q)waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not (R)see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came (S)by 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, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, (T)now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes (U)have seen Your salvation
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32 (V)A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 [e]And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the (W)fall and rising of many in Israel, and for (X)a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, (Y)a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of (Z)Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow [f]of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers (AA)night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to [g]the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who (AB)looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
The Family Returns to Nazareth
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 (AC)And the Child grew and became strong [h]in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Read full chapterScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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