Luke 2:20-46

²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God over all that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

²¹When eight days were completed so as to circumcise Him, His name was indeed called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

²²And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

²³(just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens a womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what was specified in the Lord's Law, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons”.

²⁵Well now, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, expectantly waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and Holy Spirit was upon him.

²⁶(It had been revealed to him repeatedly by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he saw the Lord's Messiah.)

²⁷So by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought the Child Jesus in, to do concerning Him according to the custom of the law,

²⁸Simeon took Him into his arms and blessed God and said:

²⁹“Sovereign, now You can release your slave in peace, according to Your word,

³⁰because my eyes have seen Your salvation,

³¹which You have prepared before the face of all peoples:

³²a light for revelation to Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.”

³³And Joseph and His mother were marveling at the things being spoken concerning Him.

³⁴Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: “Listen, this One is appointed to bring about the fall and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is spoken against,

³⁵so that the reasonings of many hearts may be revealed (furthermore, a sword will pass through your own soul also).”

³⁶Also there was a prophetess Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher—she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity

³⁷and having been a widow for about eighty-four years—who did not depart from the temple, serving God with fastings and petitions night and day.

³⁸Well she, having come up at that very moment, started praising the Lord, and kept on speaking of Him to all those in Jerusalem who were looking for redemption.

³⁹When they had completed everything, according to the law of the Lord, they went back to Galilee, to their own town, Natsareth.

⁴⁰And the Child kept growing and being strengthened in spirit, being filled with wisdom; yes, the grace of God was upon Him.

⁴¹Now every year His parents would go to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover;

⁴²so when He was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

⁴³When they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but Joseph and His mother did not know it.

⁴⁴Supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day's journey and then started looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

⁴⁵Not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him.

⁴⁶So it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.