1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire .

2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria .

3 And everyone went to his own town to register .

4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea , to the city of David called Bethlehem , since he was from the house and line of David .

5 He went there to register with Mary , who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child .

6 While they were there , the time came for her Child to be born .

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn , a Son . She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger , because there was no room for them in the inn .

 8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby , keeping watch over their flocks by night .

9 Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them , and the glory of the Lord shone around them , and they were terrified .

10 But the angel said to them , “ Do not be afraid ! For behold , I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people :

11 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you . He is Christ the Lord !

12 And this will be a sign to you : You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger .”

13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host , praising God and saying :

14 “ Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests !”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven , the shepherds said to one another , “ Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened , which the Lord has made known to us .”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby , who was lying in the manger .

17 After they had seen the Child , they spread the message they had received about Him .

18 And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them .

19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart .

20 The shepherds returned , glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen , which was just as the angel had told them .

 21When the eight days before His circumcision had passed , He was named Jesus , the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived .

22 And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete , His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord : “ Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord ” ),

24 and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord : “ A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons .”

 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon , who was righteous and devout . He was waiting for the consolation of Israel , and the Holy Spirit was upon him .

26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ .

27 Led by the Spirit , he went into the temple courts . And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law ,

28 Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God , saying :

29 “ Sovereign Lord , as You have promised , You now dismiss Your servant in peace .

30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation ,

31 which You have prepared in the sight of all people ,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles , and for glory to Your people Israel .”

33 The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him .

34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary : “ Behold , this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel , and to be a sign that will be spoken against ,

35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your soul as well .”

36 There was also a prophetess named Anna , the daughter of Phanuel , of the tribe of Asher , who was well along in years . She had been married for seven years ,

37 and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four . She never left the temple , but worshiped night and day , fasting and praying .

38 Coming forward at that moment , she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem .

 39When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord , they returned to Galilee , to their own town of Nazareth .

40 And the Child grew and became strong . He was filled with wisdom , and the grace of God was upon Him .

41 Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover .

42 And when He was twelve years old , they went up according to the custom of the Feast .

43 When those days were over and they were returning home , the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem , but His parents were unaware He had stayed .

44 Assuming He was in their company , they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends .

45 When they could not find Him , they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him .

46 Finally , after three days they found Him in the temple courts , sitting among the teachers , listening to them and asking them questions .

47 And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers .

48 When His parents saw Him , they were astonished . “ Child , why have You done this to us ?” His mother asked . “ Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You .”

49 “ Why were you looking for Me ?” He asked . “ Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house ?”

50 But they did not understand the statement He was making to them .

51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them . But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart .

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature , and in favor with God and man .