Luke 2 · WEB
The Birth of Jesus and the Boy in the Temple
Listen — WEB narration 0:00 / 0:00 Narration: World English Bible (David Williams), public domain — AudioTreasure.
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Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David's city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.
7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11For there is born to you, this day, in David's city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."
15When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
21When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord
23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),
24and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
28then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29"Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;
30for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
33Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.
34Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
35Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
36There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day.
38Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
39When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,
43and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it,
44but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."
49He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
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Summary
A Roman census forces Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born and laid in a feeding trough; angels announce the news to shepherds, who become the first messengers of his birth. At the temple in Jerusalem, the aged Simeon and the prophetess Anna recognize the infant as God's salvation for Israel and the nations, and Simeon foretells that a sword will pierce Mary's own soul. Twelve years later, Jesus stays behind in the temple to question and answer the teachers, telling his parents that he must be in his Father's house — and then returns to Nazareth, growing in wisdom and favor with God and men.
Themes
- The Savior born in humility, announced to outsiders (shepherds)
- Salvation reaching beyond Israel to all peoples
- Faithful Israel waiting (Simeon and Anna) and being rewarded
- The cost of the cross foreshadowed (the sword that pierces Mary's soul)
- Jesus' growth and obedient sonship — to his parents and to his Father
Key verses
- Luke 2:10-11 — “Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. For there is born to you, this day, in David's city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
- Luke 2:14 — “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”
- Luke 2:30-32 — “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
- Luke 2:52 — “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Context & background
Caesar Augustus' census frames the birth in real Roman history; Quirinius governed the province of Syria, which administered the region of Judea. Bethlehem (West Bank, just south of Jerusalem) is "David's city," fulfilling Micah 5:2. Shepherds — ritually unclean and socially low — receive the angelic announcement, signaling Luke's emphasis on the lowly. The temple in Jerusalem (modern Israel) is the setting for Jesus' presentation and his boyhood encounter with the teachers; the offering of "two turtledoves" indicates Joseph and Mary's poverty. Nazareth in lower Galilee (northern Israel) is where Jesus grows up under Joseph and Mary's care.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 2:26 — Samuel's growth "in favor with the Lord, and also with men"; pattern echoed in Luke 2:52
- Isaiah 49:6 — The Servant as a light to the nations; quoted by Simeon
- Isaiah 9:6-7 — The child given, the government on his shoulders
- Leviticus 12:6-8 — The post-childbirth offerings; the dove option for the poor
- Micah 5:2 — Bethlehem prophesied as birthplace of the ruler of Israel