{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/wnt/luke/2","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T02:44:33.989Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WNT","book":"Luke","bookSlug":"luke","chapter":2,"testament":"NEW"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":1,"nextChapter":3,"totalChapters":24,"totalVerses":52},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the  registration of  the whole Empire."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"It was the first registration made during the governorship of Quirinius in Syria;"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,"},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"But while they were there, her full time came,"},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the  inn."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"Now there were shepherds in the same part of the country, keeping watch over their sheep by night  in the open fields,"},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were filled with terror."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"But the angel said to them, |Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy for all the People."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"For a  Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"And this is the token for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.|"},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"And immediately there was with the angel a multitude of the army of Heaven praising God and saying,"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"|Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among  men who please Him!|"},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, |Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.|"},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"So they made haste and came and found Mary and Joseph, with the babe lying in the manger."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"and all who listened were astonished at what the shepherds told them."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"But Mary treasured up all these things, often dwelling on them in her mind."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made to them."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"And when the days for their purification appointed by the Law of Moses had passed, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord--"},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"as it is written in the Law of the Lord: |Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord.|"},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord, |a pair of  turtle doves or two young pigeons.|"},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Symeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him."},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should  not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed One."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"Led by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do with regard to Him according to the custom of the Law,"},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,"},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"|Now, O Sovereign Lord, Thou dost send Thy servant away in peace, in fulfilment of Thy word,"},{"verseNumber":30,"text":"Because mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,"},{"verseNumber":31,"text":"Which Thou hast made ready in the sight of all nations--"},{"verseNumber":32,"text":"A light  to shine upon the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel.|"},{"verseNumber":33,"text":"And while the child's father and mother were wondering at the words of Symeon concerning Him,"},{"verseNumber":34,"text":"Symeon blessed them and said to Mary the mother, |This child  is appointed for the falling and the  uprising of many in Israel and for a token to be spoken against;"},{"verseNumber":35,"text":"and a sword will pierce through your own soul also; that the reasonings  in many hearts may be  revealed.|"},{"verseNumber":36,"text":"There was also  Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, belonging to the tribe of Asher. She was of a very great age, having had after her maidenhood seven years of married life,"},{"verseNumber":37,"text":"and then being a widow  of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, with fasting and prayer."},{"verseNumber":38,"text":"And coming up just at that moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the child to all who were expecting the  deliverance of Jerusalem."},{"verseNumber":39,"text":"Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth."},{"verseNumber":40,"text":"And the child grew and became strong and full of wisdom, and the favour of God rested upon Him."},{"verseNumber":41,"text":"Now His parents used to go up year by year to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover."},{"verseNumber":42,"text":"And when He was twelve years old they went up as was customary at the time of the Feast, and,"},{"verseNumber":43,"text":"after staying the full number of days, when they started back home the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not discover this,"},{"verseNumber":44,"text":"but supposing Him to be in the travelling company, they proceeded a day's journey. Then they searched up and down for Him among their relatives and acquaintances;"},{"verseNumber":45,"text":"but being unable to find Him they returned to Jerusalem, making anxious inquiry for Him."},{"verseNumber":46,"text":"On the third day they found Him in  the Temple sitting among the  Rabbis, both listening to them and asking them  questions,"},{"verseNumber":47,"text":"while all who heard Him were astonished at His intelligence and at  the answers He gave."},{"verseNumber":48,"text":"When they saw Him, they were smitten with amazement, and His mother said to Him, |My child, why have you behaved thus to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.|"},{"verseNumber":49,"text":"|Why is it that you have been searching for me?| He replied; |did you not know that it is my duty  to be engaged upon my Father's business?|"},{"verseNumber":50,"text":"But they did not understand the significance of these words."},{"verseNumber":51,"text":"Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was always obedient to them; but His mother carefully treasured up all these  incidents in her memory."},{"verseNumber":52,"text":"And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."}],"citation":{"inline":"Luke 2 (WNT)","markdown":"[Luke 2](https://primebible.com/wnt/luke/2)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WNT. https://primebible.com/wnt/luke/2 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}