Study Desk

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus^[a](a) that the whole empire^[b] should be registered.

This first registration took place while^[c] Quirinius was governing Syria.^(b)

So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David,^(c)

to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him^[d] and was pregnant.

While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place.

In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.

Then an angel of the Lord^(d) stood before^[e] them,^(e) and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.^[f]

But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid,^(f) for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:^[g]

Today a Savior,^(g) who is Messiah^(h) the Lord,⁽ⁱ⁾ was born for you in the city of David.

This will be the sign for you:^(j) You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough."

Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

Glory to God in the highest heaven,^(k) and peace on earth^(l) to people He favors!^[h][i](m)

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.

After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child,

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

But Mary was treasuring up all these things^[j] in her heart⁽ⁿ⁾ and meditating on them.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God^(o) for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.

When the eight days were completed for His circumcision,^(p) He was named Jesus^(q)—the name given by the angel before He was conceived.^[k]

And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,^(r) they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

(just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male ^[l] will be dedicated ^[m] to the Lord ^(s)[n])

and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons ^(t)[o]).

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,^(u) looking forward to Israel's consolation,^[p](v) and the Holy Spirit was on him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit^(w) that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah.^(x)

Guided by the Spirit, he entered^[q] the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law,

Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:

Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised.

For my eyes have seen Your salvation.^(y)

You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—

a light for revelation to the Gentiles^[r](z) and glory to Your people Israel.^(aa)

His father and mother^[s] were amazed at what was being said about Him.

Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel^(ab) and to be a sign that will be opposed^[t]—

and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts^[u] of many hearts may be revealed."

There was also a prophetess,^(ac) Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.^(ad) She was well along in years,^[v] having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,^[w](ae)

and was a widow for 84 years.^[x] She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.^(af)

At that very moment,^[y] she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.^[z](ag)

When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.^(ah)

The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him.^(ai)

Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.^(aj)

When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.^(ak)

After those days were over,^(al) as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents^[aa] did not know it.

Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.

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

After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

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

When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him,^(am) "Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You."^(an)

"Why were you searching for Me?" He asked them. "Didn't you know that I had to be in My Father's house?" ^[ab]

But they did not understand what He said to them.^(ao)

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.^(ap)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.^(aq)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,^[a] while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,^(a) Herod was tetrarch^[b] of Galilee,^(b) his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea^[c] and Trachonitis,^[d] and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,^[e]

during the high priesthood of Annas^(c) and Caiaphas,^(d) God's word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.^(e)

He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan,^(f) preaching a baptism of repentance^[f] for the forgiveness of sins,

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make His paths straight!

Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; ^[g] the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,

and everyone ^[h] will see the salvation of God. ^(g)[i]

He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers!^(h) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,'⁽ⁱ⁾ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

Even now the ax is ready to strike^[j] the root of the trees! Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."^(j)

"What then should we do?"^(k) the crowds were asking him.

He replied to them, "The one who has two shirts^[k] must share with someone who has none, and the one who has food must do the same."^(l)

Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?"^(m)

He told them, "Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized."

Some soldiers also questioned him: "What should we do?" He said to them, "Don't take money from anyone by force or false accusation; be satisfied with your wages."

Now the people were waiting expectantly, and all of them were debating in their minds^[l] whether John might be the Messiah.⁽ⁿ⁾

John answered them all,^(o) "I baptize you with^[m] water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with^[n] the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing shovel^[o](p) is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with a fire that never goes out."^(q)

Then, along with many other exhortations, he proclaimed good news to the people.

But Herod the tetrarch,^(r) being rebuked by him about Herodias, his brother's wife, and about all the evil things Herod had done,^(s)

added this to everything else—he locked John up in prison.^(t)

When all the people were baptized,^(u) Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying,^(v) heaven opened,

and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You!^(w)

As He began His ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be^[p] the son of Joseph,^(x) son^[q] of Heli,

son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,

²⁵son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,

son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,

²⁷son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel,^(y) son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,

son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,

²⁹son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,

son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,

³¹son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,

son of Jesse,^(z) son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon,^[r] son of Nahshon,

³³son of Amminadab, son of Ram,^[s] son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,

son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham,^(aa) son of Terah, son of Nahor,

³⁵son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,

son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah,^(ab) son of Lamech,

³⁷son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,

son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.