Luke 2:11-40

11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a 1Savior, who is 23Christ 4the Lord. 125This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a 6manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14“7Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men 89with whom He is pleased.”

15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the 10manger. 17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary 11treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20The shepherds went back, 12glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

21And when 13eight days had passed, 14before His circumcision, 15His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

2216And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “17Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “18A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was 19righteous and devout, 20looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And 21it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not 22see death before he had seen the Lord’s 23Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, 2425to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,29“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, 26According to Your word;30For my eyes have 27seen Your salvation,31Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,3228A Light 29of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33And His father and 30mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary 31His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for 32the fall and 33rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- 35and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36And there was a 34prophetess, 35Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of 36the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in 37years 38and had lived with her husband seven years after her 39marriage, 37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with 40fastings and prayers. 38At that very 41moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were 42looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

39When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to 43their own city of Nazareth. 4044The Child continued to grow and become strong, 45increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.