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Jesus Is Born in Bethlehem

¹ Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from ^(C1)Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of ^(C2)all ^(F1)the inhabited earth.^2 (F1)This was the first census taken while ^(F2)Quirinius was governor of ^(C1)Syria.³ And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city.⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because ^(C1)he was of the house and family of David,⁵ in order to register along with Mary, who was betrothed to him, and was with child.⁶ Now it happened that while they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth.⁷ And she ^(C1)gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a ^(F1)manger, because there was no place for them in the ^(F2)guest room.

⁸ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.⁹ And ^(C1)an angel of the ^(F1)Lord ^(C2)stood before them, and the glory of the ^(F1)Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "^(C1)Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.¹¹ For today in the city of David there has been born for you a ^(C1)Savior, who is ^(F1)(C2)Christ ^(C3)the Lord.¹² "^(C1)And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a ^(F1)manger."¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "^(C1)Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men ^(F1)(C2)with whom He is pleased."

¹⁵ And it happened that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."¹⁶ So they went in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the ^(F1)manger.¹⁷ And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.¹⁸ And all who heard it marveled at the things which were told them by the shepherds.¹⁹ But Mary ^(C1)was treasuring all these things, pondering them in her heart.²⁰ And the shepherds went back, ^(C1)glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as was told them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple

²¹ And when ^(C1)eight days were fulfilled so that they could circumcise Him, ^(C2)His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

^22 (C1)And when the days for their cleansing according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the ^(F1)Lord²³ (as it is written in the Law of the ^(F1)Lord, "^(C1)EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE ^(F1)LORD"),²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the ^(F1)Lord, "^(C1)A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was ^(C1)righteous and devout, ^(C2)waiting for the ^(F1)(C3)comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.²⁶ And ^(C1)it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not ^(C2)see death before he had seen the ^(F1)Lord's ^(F2)Christ.²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus ^(F1)(C1)to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,²⁸ then he took Him into his arms and blessed God, and said,

²⁹ "Now Master, You are releasing Your slave in peace,
^(C1)According to Your word.

³⁰ For my eyes have ^(C1)seen Your salvation,

³¹ Which You prepared in the presence of all peoples,

^32 (C1)A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
And for the glory of Your people Israel."

³³ And His father and ^(C1)mother were marveling at the things which were being said about Him.³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary ^(C1)His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for ^(C2)the fall and ^(F1)rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—³⁵ and a sword will pierce through your own soul as well—that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."

³⁶ And there was a ^(C1)prophetess, ^(F1)Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of ^(C2)the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in ^(F2)years ^(C3)having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,³⁷ and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with ^(C1)fastings and prayers.³⁸ And at that very ^(F1)moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were ^(C1)waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

³⁹ And when they had finished everything according to the Law of the ^(F1)Lord, they returned to Galilee, to ^(C1)their own city of Nazareth.^40 (C1)Now the Child continued to grow and become strong, being filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

⁴¹ And His parents would go to Jerusalem every year at ^(C1)the Feast of the Passover.⁴² And when He became twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;⁴³ and as they were returning, after finishing the ^(C1)days of the Feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents did not know.⁴⁴ But supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day's journey, and they began searching for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.⁴⁵ When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem searching for Him.⁴⁶ And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.⁴⁷ And all who heard Him ^(C1)were astounded at His understanding and His answers.⁴⁸ When they saw Him, they were astonished, and ^(C1)His mother said to Him, "Child, why have You treated us this way? Behold, ^(C2)Your father and I ^(F1)have been anxiously searching for You."⁴⁹ And He said to them, "Why is it that you were searching for Me? Did you not know that ^(C1)I had to be in My Father's ^(F1)house?"⁵⁰ But ^(C1)they did not understand the statement which He had spoken to them.⁵¹ And He went down with them and came to ^(C1)Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them, and ^(C2)His mother ^(C3)was treasuring all these ^(F1)things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and ^(F1)stature, and in ^(C1)favor with God and men.