Luke 2:20-46

²⁰And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen. It had all happened as they had been told.

²¹Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus — the name given him by the angel before his conception.

²²When the period of purification of mother and child, required by the Law of Moses, came to an end, his parents took the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,

²³in compliance with the Law of the Lord that every first-born male will be dedicated to the Lord,

²⁴and also to offer the sacrifice required by the Law of the Lord — a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.

²⁵There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law,

²⁸Simeon himself took the child in his arms, and blessed God, and said:

²⁹“Now, Lord, you will let your servant go, According to your word, in peace,

³⁰for my eyes have seen the salvation

³¹Which you have prepared in the sight of all nations —

³²A light to bring light to the Gentiles, And to be the glory of your people Israel.”

³³While the child's father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,

³⁴Simeon gave them his blessing, and said to Mary, the child's mother, “This child is appointed to be the cause of the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign much spoken against —

³⁵Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart — and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed.”

³⁶There was also a prophet named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage,

³⁷and then a widow, until she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshipped God night and day.

³⁸At that moment she came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem.

³⁹When the child's parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

⁴⁰The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was on him.

⁴¹Every year the child's parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.

⁴²When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,

⁴³and had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.

⁴⁴Thinking that he was with their fellow travellers, they went one day's journey before searching for him amongst their relatives and acquaintances;

⁴⁵and then, as they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching everywhere for him.

⁴⁶It was not until the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting amongst the teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.