1 It|strong="G1161" was|strong="G3588" about|strong="G1722" that|strong="G1565" same time|strong="G2250" that|strong="G1565" Augustus|strong="G0828" Caesar|strong="G2541" sent|strong="G3844" out|strong="G1831" an|strong="G1096" order to|strong="G1722" all|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" countries that|strong="G1565" were|strong="G3956" under|strong="G1722" Roman rule. The|strong="G3956" order said|strong="G1096" that|strong="G1565" everyone’s|strong="G3956" name must|strong="G3588" be|strong="G1096" put|strong="G1096" on|strong="G1722" a|strong="G1096" list.
2 This|strong="G3778" was|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" first|strong="G4413" counting of|strong="G4413" all|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3778" while|strong="G1096" Quirinius|strong="G2958" was|strong="G3588" governor|strong="G2230" of|strong="G4413" Syria|strong="G4947".
3 Everyone|strong="G3956" traveled to|strong="G1519" their|strong="G1438" own|strong="G1438" hometowns to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2532" their|strong="G1438" name put on|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3956" list.
4 So|strong="G2532" Joseph|strong="G2501" left|strong="G0575" Nazareth|strong="G3478", a|strong="G1510" town|strong="G4172" in|strong="G1519" Galilee|strong="G1056", and|strong="G2532" went|strong="G0305" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" town|strong="G4172" of|strong="G1537" Bethlehem|strong="G0965" in|strong="G1519" Judea|strong="G2449". It|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" known as|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" town|strong="G4172" of|strong="G1537" David|strong="G1138". Joseph|strong="G2501" went|strong="G0305" there|strong="G1510" because|strong="G1223" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" from|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" family|strong="G3965" of|strong="G1537" David|strong="G1138".
5 Joseph registered with|strong="G4862" Mary|strong="G3137" because|strong="G0846" she|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" engaged|strong="G3423" to|strong="G0846" marry him|strong="G0846". (She|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" now|strong="G1510" pregnant.)
6 While|strong="G1722" Joseph and|strong="G1161" Mary|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1722" Bethlehem, the|strong="G3588" time|strong="G2250" came|strong="G1096" for|strong="G1722" her|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1722" have|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" baby|strong="G5088".
7 She|strong="G0846" gave|strong="G5088" birth|strong="G5088" to|strong="G2532" her|strong="G0846" first son|strong="G5207". She|strong="G0846" wrapped|strong="G4683" him|strong="G0846" up well|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" laid|strong="G0347" him|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G1510" box where|strong="G1722" cattle are|strong="G1510" fed. She|strong="G0846" put him|strong="G0846" there|strong="G1510" because|strong="G1360" the|strong="G3588" guest|strong="G2646" room|strong="G5117" was|strong="G1510" full.
8 That|strong="G0846" night|strong="G3571", some|strong="G3588" shepherds|strong="G4166" were|strong="G1510" out|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" fields|strong="G5561" near|strong="G1722" Bethlehem watching|strong="G5442" their|strong="G0846" sheep.
9 An|strong="G0032" angel|strong="G0032" of|strong="G1391" the|strong="G2532" Lord|strong="G2962" appeared|strong="G2186" to|strong="G2532" them|strong="G0846", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" glory|strong="G1391" of|strong="G1391" the|strong="G2532" Lord|strong="G2962" was|strong="G0846" shining|strong="G4034" around|strong="G4034" them|strong="G0846". The|strong="G2532" shepherds were|strong="G0846" very|strong="G0846" afraid|strong="G5399".
10 The|strong="G3956" angel|strong="G0032" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G3004" them|strong="G0846", “Don’t|strong="G3361" be|strong="G1510" afraid|strong="G5399". I|strong="G2532" have|strong="G1510" some|strong="G3588" very|strong="G0846" good|strong="G2097" news|strong="G2097" for|strong="G1063" you|strong="G5210"—news|strong="G2097" that|strong="G3004" will|strong="G1510" make|strong="G3361" everyone|strong="G3956" happy.
11 Today|strong="G4594" your|strong="G2962" Savior|strong="G4990" was|strong="G1510" born|strong="G5088" in|strong="G1722" David’s|strong="G1138" town|strong="G4172". He|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G1722" Messiah|strong="G5547", the|strong="G1722" Lord|strong="G2962".
12 This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" how you|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3778" know him|strong="G2532": You|strong="G5210" will|strong="G3778" find|strong="G2147" a|strong="G2147" baby|strong="G1025" wrapped|strong="G4683" in|strong="G1722" pieces of|strong="G1722" cloth and|strong="G2532" lying|strong="G2749" in|strong="G1722" a|strong="G2147" feeding box.”
13 Then|strong="G2532" a|strong="G1096" huge army|strong="G4756" of|strong="G2316" angels|strong="G0032" from|strong="G2532" heaven|strong="G3770" joined|strong="G1096" the|strong="G3588" first angel|strong="G0032", and|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" were|strong="G1096" all|strong="G3588" praising|strong="G0134" God|strong="G2316", saying|strong="G3004",
14 “Praise|strong="G1391" God|strong="G2316" in|strong="G1722" heaven,
15 The|strong="G3588" angels|strong="G0032" left|strong="G0565" the|strong="G3588" shepherds|strong="G4166" and|strong="G2532" went|strong="G0565" back|strong="G0565" to|strong="G1519" heaven|strong="G3772". The|strong="G3588" shepherds|strong="G4166" said|strong="G2980" to|strong="G1519" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G3739", “Let’s go|strong="G0565" to|strong="G1519" Bethlehem|strong="G0965" and|strong="G2532" see|strong="G3708" this|strong="G3778" great event the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" has|strong="G2962" told|strong="G2980" us|strong="G1519" about|strong="G5613".”
16 So|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" went|strong="G2064" running and|strong="G2532" found|strong="G0429" Mary|strong="G3137" and|strong="G2532" Joseph|strong="G2501". And|strong="G2532" there|strong="G1722" was|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" baby|strong="G1025", lying|strong="G2749" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" feeding box.
17 When|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" saw|strong="G3708" the|strong="G3588" baby, they|strong="G0846" told|strong="G2980" what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" angels said|strong="G2980" about|strong="G4012" this|strong="G3778" child|strong="G3813".
18 Everyone|strong="G3956" was|strong="G3588" surprised|strong="G2296" when|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" heard|strong="G0191" what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3956" shepherds|strong="G4166" told|strong="G2980" them|strong="G0846".
19 Mary|strong="G3137" continued to|strong="G1722" think about|strong="G1722" these|strong="G3778" things|strong="G3778", trying to|strong="G1722" understand them|strong="G0846".
20 The|strong="G3956" shepherds|strong="G4166" went|strong="G5290" back|strong="G5290" to|strong="G4314" their|strong="G0846" sheep, praising|strong="G0134" God|strong="G2316" and|strong="G2532" thanking him|strong="G0846" for|strong="G1909" everything|strong="G3956" they|strong="G0846" had|strong="G3739" seen|strong="G3708" and|strong="G2532" heard|strong="G0191". It|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3739" just|strong="G2531" as|strong="G2531" the|strong="G3956" angel had|strong="G3739" told|strong="G2980" them|strong="G0846".
21 When|strong="G3753" the|strong="G3588" baby was|strong="G2424" eight|strong="G3638" days|strong="G2250" old, he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G2424" circumcised|strong="G4059", and|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G2424" named|strong="G3686" Jesus|strong="G2424". This|strong="G3588" name|strong="G3686" was|strong="G2424" given|strong="G2564" by|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" angel|strong="G0032" before|strong="G4253" the|strong="G3588" baby began to|strong="G2532" grow inside|strong="G1722" Mary|strong="G0846".
22 The|strong="G3588" time|strong="G2250" came|strong="G4130" for|strong="G1519" Mary|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" Joseph to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G0846" the|strong="G3588" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G2250" Moses|strong="G3475" taught about|strong="G2596" being|strong="G2250" made pure. They|strong="G0846" brought|strong="G0321" Jesus|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2414" so|strong="G2532" that|strong="G0846" they|strong="G0846" could present|strong="G3936" him|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".
23 It|strong="G3551" is|strong="G2962" written|strong="G1125" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3956" law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962": “When|strong="G1722" a|strong="G2564" mother’s first baby is|strong="G2962" a|strong="G2564" boy, he|strong="G3754" shall|strong="G2564" be|strong="G3956" called|strong="G2564" ‘special for|strong="G3754" the|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962".’”
24 The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" also|strong="G2532" says|strong="G3004" that|strong="G3004" people|strong="G3588" must|strong="G2046" give|strong="G1325" a|strong="G1325" sacrifice|strong="G2378": “You|strong="G1325" must|strong="G2046" sacrifice|strong="G2378" two|strong="G1417" doves|strong="G4058" or|strong="G2228" two|strong="G1417" young|strong="G3502" pigeons|strong="G4058".” So|strong="G2532" Joseph and|strong="G2532" Mary went to|strong="G3004" Jerusalem to|strong="G3004" do|strong="G3004" this|strong="G3588".
25 A|strong="G1510" man|strong="G0444" named|strong="G3686" Simeon|strong="G4826" lived|strong="G1510" in|strong="G1722" Jerusalem|strong="G2419". He|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" good|strong="G1510" man|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3739" was|strong="G1510" devoted to|strong="G1909" God|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" waiting|strong="G4327" for|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" time|strong="G1909" when|strong="G2532" God|strong="G0846" would|strong="G0846" come|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1909" help Israel|strong="G2474". The|strong="G3588" Holy|strong="G0040" Spirit|strong="G4151" was|strong="G1510" with|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846".
26 The|strong="G3588" Holy|strong="G0040" Spirit|strong="G4151" told him|strong="G0846" that|strong="G3708" he|strong="G2532" would|strong="G0302" not|strong="G3361" die|strong="G2288" before|strong="G4250" he|strong="G2532" saw|strong="G3708" the|strong="G3588" Messiah|strong="G5547" from|strong="G5259" the|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962".
27 The|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" led Simeon|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G0846". So|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G2424" there|strong="G1722" when|strong="G2532" Mary|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" Joseph brought|strong="G1521" the|strong="G3588" baby Jesus|strong="G2424" to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" Jewish law|strong="G3551" said|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" must|strong="G4160" do|strong="G4160".
28 Simeon|strong="G0846" took|strong="G1209" the|strong="G3588" baby in|strong="G1519" his|strong="G0846" arms|strong="G0043" and|strong="G2532" thanked God|strong="G2316":
29 “Now|strong="G3568", Lord|strong="G1203", you|strong="G4771" can let|strong="G0630" me|strong="G0630", your|strong="G0630" servant|strong="G1401", die in|strong="G1722" peace|strong="G1515" as|strong="G1722" you|strong="G4771" said.
30 I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G3748" seen|strong="G3708" with|strong="G3708" my|strong="G3708" own|strong="G3788" eyes|strong="G3788" how|strong="G3754" you|strong="G4771" will|strong="G3748" save your|strong="G3708" people|strong="G3588".
31 Now all|strong="G3956" people|strong="G2992" can see your|strong="G3956" plan.
32 He|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2532" light|strong="G5457" to|strong="G1519" show your|strong="G2532" way to|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" other nations|strong="G1484".
33 Jesus’|strong="G3384" father|strong="G3962" and|strong="G2532" mother|strong="G3384" were|strong="G1510" amazed|strong="G2296" at|strong="G1909" what|strong="G3588" Simeon|strong="G0846" said|strong="G2980" about|strong="G4012" him|strong="G0846".
34 Then|strong="G2532" Simeon|strong="G4826" blessed|strong="G2127" them|strong="G0846" and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" Mary|strong="G3137", “Many|strong="G4183" Jews will|strong="G4183" fall|strong="G4431" and|strong="G2532" many|strong="G4183" will|strong="G4183" rise|strong="G0386" because|strong="G1722" of|strong="G1722" this|strong="G3778" boy. He|strong="G2532" will|strong="G4183" be|strong="G2532" a|strong="G3708" sign|strong="G4592" from|strong="G4592" God|strong="G0846" that|strong="G3004" some|strong="G3588" will|strong="G4183" not|strong="G2532" accept.
35 So|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" secret thoughts|strong="G1261" of|strong="G1537" many|strong="G4183" will|strong="G4183" be|strong="G2532" made|strong="G1330" known. And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G4183" that|strong="G3704" happen will|strong="G4183" be|strong="G2532" painful for|strong="G1537" you|strong="G4771"—like|strong="G0846" a|strong="G2532" sword|strong="G4501" cutting through|strong="G1330" your|strong="G2532" heart|strong="G2588".”
36 Anna|strong="G0451", a|strong="G1510" prophetess|strong="G4398", was|strong="G1510" there|strong="G1510" at|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G0846". She|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" from|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" family of|strong="G1537" Phanuel|strong="G5323" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" tribe|strong="G5443" of|strong="G1537" Asher|strong="G0768". She|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" now|strong="G2532" very|strong="G0846" old|strong="G4260". She|strong="G0846" had|strong="G1510" lived|strong="G1510" with|strong="G3326" her|strong="G0846" husband|strong="G0435" seven|strong="G2033" years|strong="G2094"
37 before|strong="G2193" he|strong="G2532" died and|strong="G2532" left|strong="G0868" her|strong="G0846" alone|strong="G0846". She|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3739" now|strong="G2532" 84 years|strong="G2094" old. Anna was|strong="G3739" always at|strong="G2094" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G0846"; she|strong="G0846" never|strong="G3756" left|strong="G0868". She|strong="G0846" worshiped God|strong="G0846" by|strong="G2250" fasting|strong="G3521" and|strong="G2532" praying day|strong="G2250" and|strong="G2532" night|strong="G3571".
38 Anna was|strong="G3588" there when|strong="G2532" Joseph and|strong="G2532" Mary|strong="G0846" came|strong="G2186" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3956" Temple|strong="G0846". She|strong="G0846" praised God|strong="G2316" and|strong="G2532" talked|strong="G2980" about|strong="G4012" Jesus|strong="G0846" to|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3956" waiting|strong="G4327" for|strong="G4012" God|strong="G2316" to|strong="G2532" free Jerusalem|strong="G2419".
39 Joseph and|strong="G2532" Mary finished|strong="G5055" doing all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3956" that|strong="G3956" the|strong="G3956" law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3956" Lord|strong="G2962" commanded. Then|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" went home to|strong="G1519" Nazareth|strong="G3478", their|strong="G1438" own|strong="G1438" town|strong="G4172" in|strong="G1519" Galilee|strong="G1056".
40 The|strong="G3588" little boy Jesus|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" developing into|strong="G1909" a|strong="G1510" mature young man|strong="G2316", full|strong="G4137" of|strong="G2316" wisdom|strong="G4678". God|strong="G2316" was|strong="G1510" blessing|strong="G5485" him|strong="G0846".
41 Every|strong="G2596" year|strong="G2094" Jesus’ parents|strong="G1118" went|strong="G4198" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419" for|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" Passover|strong="G3957" festival|strong="G1859".
42 When|strong="G3753" Jesus|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" twelve|strong="G1427" years|strong="G2094" old, they|strong="G0846" went|strong="G0305" to|strong="G2596" the|strong="G3588" festival|strong="G1859" as|strong="G2596" usual.
43 When|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" festival was|strong="G2424" over|strong="G1722", they|strong="G0846" went|strong="G5290" home, but|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G2424" stayed|strong="G5278" in|strong="G1722" Jerusalem|strong="G2419". His|strong="G0846" parents|strong="G1118" did|strong="G1097" not|strong="G3756" know|strong="G1097" about|strong="G1722" it|strong="G0846".
44 They|strong="G0846" traveled for|strong="G1722" a|strong="G1510" whole|strong="G1722" day|strong="G2250" thinking that|strong="G0846" Jesus|strong="G0846" was|strong="G1510" with|strong="G1722" them|strong="G0846" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" group. They|strong="G0846" began looking|strong="G0327" for|strong="G1722" him|strong="G0846" among|strong="G1722" their|strong="G0846" family and|strong="G2532" close friends,
45 but|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" did|strong="G2147" not|strong="G3361" find|strong="G2147" him|strong="G0846". So|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" went|strong="G5290" back|strong="G5290" to|strong="G1519" Jerusalem|strong="G2419" to|strong="G1519" look|strong="G0327" for|strong="G1519" him|strong="G0846" there.
46 After|strong="G3326" three|strong="G5140" days|strong="G2250" they|strong="G0846" found|strong="G2147" him|strong="G0846". Jesus|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" sitting|strong="G2516" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Temple|strong="G0846" area with|strong="G3326" the|strong="G3588" religious teachers|strong="G1320", listening|strong="G0191" and|strong="G2532" asking|strong="G1905" them|strong="G0846" questions|strong="G1905".
47 Everyone|strong="G3956" who|strong="G3588" heard|strong="G0191" him|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" amazed|strong="G1839" at|strong="G1909" his|strong="G0846" understanding|strong="G4907" and|strong="G2532" wise answers|strong="G0612".
48 When|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" parents|strong="G3962" saw|strong="G3708" him|strong="G0846", they|strong="G0846" wondered how|strong="G5101" this|strong="G3779" was|strong="G3588" possible. And|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" mother|strong="G3384" said|strong="G3004", “Son|strong="G5043", why|strong="G5101" did|strong="G4160" you|strong="G4771" do|strong="G4160" this|strong="G3779" to|strong="G4314" us|strong="G3004"? Your|strong="G3708" father|strong="G3962" and|strong="G2532" I|strong="G1473" were|strong="G3588" very|strong="G0846" worried about|strong="G4314" you|strong="G4771". We|strong="G2249" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" looking|strong="G2212" for|strong="G4314" you|strong="G4771".”
49 Jesus|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" them|strong="G0846", “Why|strong="G5101" did|strong="G1492" you|strong="G3754" have|strong="G1510" to|strong="G4314" look|strong="G1492" for|strong="G3754" me|strong="G3004"? You|strong="G3754" should|strong="G1163" have|strong="G1510" known that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G1473" must|strong="G1163" be|strong="G1510" where|strong="G1722" my|strong="G2212" Father’s|strong="G3962" work is|strong="G1510".”
50 But|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" did|strong="G4920" not|strong="G3756" understand|strong="G4920" the|strong="G3588" meaning of|strong="G4487" what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G2980" to|strong="G2532" them|strong="G0846".
51 Jesus|strong="G0846" went|strong="G2064" with|strong="G3326" them|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" Nazareth|strong="G3478" and|strong="G2532" obeyed them|strong="G0846". His|strong="G0846" mother|strong="G3384" was|strong="G1510" still|strong="G2064" thinking about|strong="G1722" all|strong="G3956" these|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3956".
52 As|strong="G1722" Jesus|strong="G2424" grew taller, he|strong="G2532" continued to|strong="G2532" grow in|strong="G1722" wisdom|strong="G4678". God|strong="G2316" was|strong="G2424" pleased with|strong="G1722" him|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" so|strong="G2532" were|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0444" who|strong="G3588" knew him|strong="G2532".