Luke 2 · Notes

And it happened in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the inhabited world.

This registration was the first, while Quirinius was governing Syria.

And all were going to be registered, each to his own town.

And Yosef (Joseph) also went up from the Galilee, from the town of Natzeret (Nazareth), into Yehudah (Judea), to the city of David which is called Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem), because he was of the house and family of David,

to be registered together with Miryam (Mary), who was betrothed to him, and who was pregnant.

And it happened, while they were there, that the days were fulfilled for her to give birth,

and she bore her firstborn son, and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding-trough/manger, because there was no place for them in the guest-room/inn.

And there were shepherds in the same region, living in the fields and keeping the watches of the night over their flock.

And a messenger of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they feared with a great fear.

And the messenger said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see, I bring you good news of a great joy which will be for all the people,

because today a savior was born to you in the city of David, who is Messiah, Lord.

And this is the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding-trough."

And suddenly there was with the messenger a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

"Glory in the highest to God, and on earth peace among people of his favor."

And it happened, when the messengers went away from them into heaven, that the shepherds were saying to one another, "Let us go then to Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem) and see this matter that has happened, which the Lord made known to us."

And they came hurrying, and found both Miryam (Mary) and Yosef (Joseph), and the baby lying in the feeding-trough.

And seeing this, they made known the word spoken to them concerning this child.

And all who heard marveled at the things spoken to them by the shepherds.

But Mary was keeping all these matters, pondering them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it was spoken to them.

And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise him, his name was called Yeshua (Jesus), the name called by the messenger before he was conceived in the womb.

And when the days of their purification were fulfilled, according to the law of Mosheh (Moses), they brought him up to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) to present him to the Lord —

just as it is written in the law of the Lord that "every male opening the womb will be called holy to the Lord" —

and to give a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

And see, there was a man in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) whose name was Shimon (Simeon), and this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy wind/spirit was upon him.

And it had been revealed to him by the holy wind/spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Messiah of the Lord.

And he came in the wind/spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua (Jesus), for them to do according to the custom of the law concerning him,

he also received him into his arms and blessed God and said,

"Now you release your slave, Master, according to your word, in peace,

because my eyes saw your salvation

which you prepared before the face of all the peoples,

a light for revelation of the nations and for the glory of your people Israel."

And his father and his mother were marveling at the things spoken concerning him.

And Shimon (Simeon) blessed them and said to Miryam (Mary) his mother, "See, this one is set for the falling and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against —

and a sword will pass through your own soul also — so that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed."

And there was Channah (Anna), a prophetess, a daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher; she was advanced in many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

and she was a widow until eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, serving with fastings and petitions night and day.

And in that same hour, coming up, she gave thanks to God and was speaking concerning him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).

And when they completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into the Galilee, to their own town of Natzeret (Nazareth).

And the child grew and was strengthened, being filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.

And his parents went each year to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) for the feast of the Passover.

And when he became twelve years old, as they went up according to the custom of the feast

and completed the days, while they were returning, the boy Yeshua (Jesus) stayed behind in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), and his parents did not know it.

And thinking that he was in the traveling-company, they went a day's journey and were searching for him among the relatives and the acquaintances,

and not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem searching for him.

And it happened, after three days, that they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and questioning them.

And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers.

And seeing him, they were astounded, and his mother said to him, "Child, why did you do thus to us? See, your father and I were searching for you, distressed."

And he said to them, "Why is it that you were searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in the things of my Father?"

And they did not understand the word that he spoke to them.

And he went down with them and came to Natzeret (Nazareth), and was submissive to them. And his mother kept all these matters in her heart.

And Yeshua (Jesus) advanced in wisdom and stature and favor with God and people.