Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus
1In thosedays Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entireRoman world. 2(This was the first censusthat took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the townof Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because hebelonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged tobe married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to beborn, 7and she gave birth to herfirstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, becausethere was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds living out in the fieldsnearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory ofthe Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bringyou good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born toyou; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a babywrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of theheavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
andon earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them andgone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem andsee this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Maryand Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerningwhat had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherdssaid to them. 19But Mary treasured up allthese things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God forall the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him,he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had beenconceived.
22When the time of their purificationaccording to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him toJerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Everyfirstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"[b]), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is saidin the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."[c]
25Now there was a man in Jerusalemcalled Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolationof Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that hewould not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved 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 theLaw required, 28Simeon took him in hisarms and praised God, saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
younow dismiss[d]your servant in peace.
30For my eyeshave seen your salvation,
31whichyou have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
andfor glory to your people Israel."
33The child's father and mothermarveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, andto be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
36There was also a prophetess, Anna,the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had livedwith her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left thetemple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanksto God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to theredemption of Jerusalem.
39When Joseph and Mary had doneeverything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to theirown town of Nazareth. 40And the childgrew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was uponhim.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfpK6cNPF7Y&hl=en&fs=1&w=480&h=295]