Luke 2 — Greek text and reception

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In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for all the inhabited world to be registered.

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This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

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Everyone went to be registered, each to his own city.

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Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David's city, which is called Bethlehem, because he belonged to David's house and family,

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to be registered with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was pregnant.

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While they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to give birth.

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She bore her firstborn Son, wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the lodging place.

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In that same region there were shepherds living in the fields and keeping watch over their flock through the watches of the night.

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An angel of the Lord stood beside them, and the Lord's glory shone around them; they feared with a great fear.

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The angel said to them, “Do not fear, for behold, I announce to you good news of great joy, which will be for all the people:

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today in David's city a Savior has been born for you, who is Christ the Lord.

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This is the sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

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

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“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people of His favor.”

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When the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this event that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

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They came in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

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When they saw Him, they made known the saying spoken to them about this Child.

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Everyone who heard wondered at what the shepherds told them.

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But Mary preserved all these matters, bringing them together in her heart.

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The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to them.

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When eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

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When the days of their purification according to Moses' law were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord,

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as it is written in the Lord's law: “Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,”

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and to give a sacrifice according to what is said in the Lord's law: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

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And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

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It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Christ.

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He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the Child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the law,

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he received Him into his arms, blessed God, and said,

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“Now, Master, You release Your servant in peace according to Your word,

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because my eyes have seen Your salvation,

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which You prepared before the face of all peoples:

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a light for revelation to the nations and glory for Your people Israel.”

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His father and mother were wondering at what was being said about Him.

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Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this One is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against—

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and a sword will pass through your own soul also—so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

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There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in many days, having lived with a husband for seven years after her virginity,

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and she was a widow until eighty-four years of age. She did not leave the temple, serving with fasts and petitions night and day.

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Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to God and spoke about Him to everyone awaiting Jerusalem's redemption.

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When they had completed everything according to the Lord's law, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

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The Child grew and became strong, being filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon Him.

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His parents went each year to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover.

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When He became twelve years old, they went up according to the festival's custom.

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When the days were completed and they were returning, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents did not know.

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Supposing Him to be in the traveling company, they went a day's journey and searched for Him among their kinsmen and acquaintances.

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

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

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All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

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When His parents saw Him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to Him, “Child, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been searching for You in anguish.”

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He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know that I must be in what belongs to My Father?”

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But they did not understand the saying He spoke to them.

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He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He remained subject to them. His mother kept all these matters in her heart.

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Jesus advanced in wisdom and age, and in favor with God and people.