In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census
should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the
first census that took place while Quirinius was governor
of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee
to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged
to the house and line of David. He went there to register
with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was
expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for
the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a
son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be
afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born
to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and
see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us
about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby,
who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they
spread the word concerning what had been told them about this
child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds
said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and
pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen,
which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was
named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had
been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of
Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the
Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),
and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law
of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was
righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed
to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had
seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the
temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do
for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in
his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your
servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which
you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for
revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about
him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:
"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many
in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that
the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will
pierce your own soul too."
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her
husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow
until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but
worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them
at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the
child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of
Jerusalem.
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of
the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom,
and the grace of God was upon him.
