| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. | 1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. |
| 2(This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) | 2This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. |
| 3All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. | 3And everyone went to his own town to register. |
| 4And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. | 4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. |
| 5He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. | 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. |
| 6And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. | 6While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. |
| 7She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. The Shepherds and Angels | 7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. |
| 8That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. | 8And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. |
| 9Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, | 9Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. |
| 10but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. | 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: |
| 11The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! | 11Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! |
| 12And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” | 12And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” |
| 13Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, | 13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: |
| 14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” | 14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” |
| 15When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” | 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” |
| 16They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. | 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. |
| 17After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. | 17After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. |
| 18All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, | 18And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. |
| 19but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. | 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. |
| 20The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. Jesus Is Presented in the Temple | 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them. |
| 21Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. | 21When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived. |
| 22Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. | 22And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord |
| 23The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the LORD.” | 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”), |
| 24So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” The Prophecy of Simeon | 24and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” |
| 25At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him | 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. |
| 26and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. | 26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. |
| 27That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, | 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, |
| 28Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, | 28Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: |
| 29“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. | 29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. |
| 30I have seen your salvation, | 30For my eyes have seen Your salvation, |
| 31which you have prepared for all people. | 31which You have prepared in the sight of all people, |
| 32He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” | 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” |
| 33Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. | 33The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. |
| 34Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. | 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, |
| 35As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” The Prophecy of Anna | 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.” |
| 36Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. | 36There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, |
| 37Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. | 37and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. |
| 38She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. | 38Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. |
| 39When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. | 39When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. |
| 40There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. Jesus Speaks with the Teachers | 40And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. |
| 41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. | 41Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. |
| 42When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. | 42And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. |
| 43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, | 43When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. |
| 44because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. | 44Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. |
| 45When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. | 45When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. |
| 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. | 46Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. |
| 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. | 47And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. |
| 48His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” | 48When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” |
| 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” | 49“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” |
| 50But they didn’t understand what he meant. | 50But they did not understand the statement He was making to them. |
| 51Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. | 51Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. |
| 52Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. | 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. |
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