1 I n those days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman empire should be registered.

In those days Caesar Augustus sent out word that the name of every person in the Roman nation must be written in the books of the nation.

2 T his was the first enrollment, and it was made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

This first writing took place while Quirinius was ruler of Syria.

3 A nd all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town.

So all the people went to their own cities to have their names written in the books of the nation.

4 A nd Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,

Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee to the town of Bethlehem. It was known as the city of David. He went there because he was from the family of David.

5 T o be enrolled with Mary, his espoused ( married) wife, who was about to become a mother.

Joseph went to have his and Mary’s names written in the books of the nation. Mary was his promised wife and soon to become a mother.

6 A nd while they were there, the time came for her delivery,

While they were there in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to give birth to her baby.

7 A nd she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.

Her first son was born. She put cloth around Him and laid Him in a place where cattle are fed. There was no room for them in the place where people stay for the night. The Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Jesus

8 A nd in that vicinity there were shepherds living in the field, watching over their flock by night.

In the same country there were shepherds in the fields. They were watching their flocks of sheep at night.

9 A nd behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord flashed and shone all about them, and they were terribly frightened.

The angel of the Lord came to them. The shining-greatness of the Lord shone around them. They were very much afraid.

10 B ut the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. See! I bring you good news of great joy which is for all people.

11 F or to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!

Today, One Who saves from the punishment of sin has been born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

12 A nd this will be a sign for you: you will find '> after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

There will be something special for you to see. This is the way you will know Him. You will find the Baby with cloth around Him, lying in a place where cattle are fed.”

13 T hen suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven ( a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,

At once many angels from heaven were seen, along with the angel, giving thanks to God. They were saying,

14 G lory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased '> men of goodwill, of His favor].

“Greatness and honor to our God in the highest heaven and peace on earth among men who please Him.” The Shepherds Go to Bethlehem

15 W hen the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing ( saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.

The angels went from the shepherds back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see what has happened. The Lord has told us about this.”

16 S o they went with haste and '> by searching] found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in a manger.

They went fast and found Mary and Joseph. They found the Baby lying in a place where cattle are fed.

17 A nd when they saw it, they made known what had been told them concerning this Child,

When they saw the Child, they told what the angel said about Him.

18 A nd all who heard it were astounded and marveled at what the shepherds told them.

All who heard it were surprised at what the shepherds told them.

19 B ut Mary was keeping within herself all these things ( sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart.

But Mary hid all these words in her heart. She thought about them much.

20 A nd the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.

The shepherds went back full of joy. They thanked God for all they had heard and seen. It happened as the angel had told them. Jesus Taken to the House of God

21 A nd at the end of eight days, when was to be circumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

When eight days were over, they did the religious act of becoming a Jew on the Child. He was named Jesus. This name was given to Him by the angel when Mary was told He was to be born.

22 A nd when the time for their purification came according to the Law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord—

When the days were over for her to be made pure as it was written in the Law of Moses, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to give Him to the Lord.

23 A s it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be set apart and dedicated and called holy to the Lord—

It is written in the Law of the Lord, “The first-born male born of a woman will be called holy to the Lord.”

24 A nd to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

They were to give a gift of two turtle-doves or two young birds on the altar in worship to the Lord. This was written in the Law of the Lord. Simeon’s Song of Thanks

25 N ow there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

There was a man in Jerusalem by the name of Simeon. He was a good man and very religious. He was looking for the time when the Jewish nation would be saved. The Holy Spirit was on him.

26 A nd it had been divinely revealed (communicated) to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

The Holy Spirit made it known to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen God’s Chosen One.

27 A nd prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple '> enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the little child Jesus to do for Him what was customary according to the Law,

He came to the house of God being led by the Holy Spirit. The parents took Jesus to the house of God. They came to do what the Law said must be done.

28 t ook Him up in his arms and praised and thanked God and said,

Then Simeon took Jesus in his arms. He gave honor to Him and thanked God, saying,

29 A nd now, Lord, You are releasing Your servant to depart (leave this world) in peace, according to Your word.

“Lord, now let me die in peace, as You have said.

30 F or with my eyes I have seen Your Salvation,

My eyes have seen the One Who will save men from the punishment of their sins.

31 W hich You have ordained and prepared before (in the presence of) all peoples,

You have made Him ready in the sight of all nations.

32 A Light for revelation to the Gentiles and praise and honor and glory to Your people Israel.

He will be a light to shine on the people who are not Jews. He will be the shining-greatness of Your people the Jews.”

33 A nd His father and mother were marveling at what was said about Him.

Joseph and the mother of Jesus were surprised and wondered about these words which were said about Jesus.

34 A nd Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is appointed and destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against—

Simeon honored them and said to Mary the mother of Jesus, “See! This Child will make many people fall and many people rise in the Jewish nation. He will be spoken against.

35 A nd a sword will pierce through your own soul also—that the secret thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and disclosed.

A sword will cut through your soul. By this the thoughts of many hearts will be understood.” Anna Gives Thanks for Jesus

36 A nd there was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband seven years from her maidenhood,

Anna was a woman who spoke God’s Word. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the family group of Asher. Anna was many years old. She had lived with her husband seven years after she was married.

37 A nd as a widow even for eighty-four years. She did not go out from the temple enclosure, but was worshiping night and day with fasting and prayer.

Her husband had died and she had lived without a husband eighty-four years. Yet she did not go away from the house of God. She served God day and night, praying and going without food so she could pray better.

38 A nd she too came up at that same hour, and she returned thanks to God and talked of to all who were looking for the redemption (deliverance) of Jerusalem.

At that time she came and gave thanks to God. She told the people in Jerusalem about Jesus. They were looking for the One to save them from the punishment of their sins and to set them free. They Return to Nazareth

39 A nd when they had done everything according to the Law of the Lord, they went back into Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything the Law said to do, they went back to Nazareth in Galilee.

40 A nd the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.

The Child grew and became strong in spirit. He was filled with wisdom and the loving-favor of God was on Him.

41 N ow His parents went to Jerusalem every year to the Passover Feast.

His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt.

42 A nd when He was twelve years, they went up, as was their custom.

When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem as they had done before.

43 A nd when the Feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,

When the days of the special supper were over, they started back to their town. But the boy Jesus was still in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it.

44 B ut, supposing Him to be in the caravan, they traveled on a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

They thought Jesus was with the others of the group. They walked for one day. Then they looked for Him among their family and friends.

45 A nd when they failed to find Him, they went back to Jerusalem, looking for Him all the way.

When they could not find Jesus, they turned back to Jerusalem to look for Him.

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

Three days later they found Him in the house of God. He was sitting among the teachers. He was hearing what they said and asking questions.

47 A nd all who heard Him were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His intelligence and understanding and His replies.

All those who heard Him were surprised and wondered about His understanding and at what He said.

48 A nd when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, Child, why have You treated us like this? Here Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.

When His parents saw Him, they were surprised. His mother said to Him, “My Son, why have You done this to us? See! Your father and I have had much sorrow looking for You.”

49 A nd He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house and about My Father’s business?

He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Do you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?”

50 B ut they did not comprehend what He was saying to them.

They did not understand the things He said to them.

51 A nd He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them; and his mother kept and closely and persistently guarded all these things in her heart.

He went with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. But His mother kept all these words in her heart.

52 A nd Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.

Jesus grew strong in mind and body. He grew in favor with God and men.