Luke 2:8-39

8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9And 1an angel of the Lord suddenly 2stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10And so the angel said to them, “3Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a 4Savior, who is 56Christ 7the Lord. 12And 8this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a 9manger.” 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly 10army of angels praising God and saying,14“11Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people 1213with whom He is pleased.”

15When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the 14manger. 17When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary 15treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds went back, 16glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

21And when 17eight days were completed 18so that it was time for His circumcision, 19He was also named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

2220And when the days for 21their 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: “22Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “23A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”

25And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was 24righteous and devout, 25looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And 26it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not 27see death before he had seen the Lord’s 28Christ. 27And he came 29by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, 3031to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,29“Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, 32According to Your word;30For my eyes have 33seen Your salvation,31Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:3234A light for revelation 35for the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

33And His father and 36mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to 37His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for 38the fall and 39rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be 40opposed-- 35and a sword will pierce your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36And there was a 41prophetess, 42Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of 43the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in 44years 45and had lived with her husband for seven years after her 46marriage, 37and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with 47fasts and prayers. 38And at that very 48moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were 49looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39And when His parents had completed everything in accordance with the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to 50their own city of Nazareth.