Parallel
Luke 2
Berean Standard Bible · Westminster Leningrad Codex
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire (note: Or of the whole land or of the whole world).
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So 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.
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He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
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And 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.
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And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
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Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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But 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:
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And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
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And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
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When 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.”
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The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
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When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
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And 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
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(as it is written in the Law of the Lord (note: Exodus 13:2): “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
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and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons (note: Leviticus 12:8).”
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Now 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.
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The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
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Led 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,
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Then 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,
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so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
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There 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,
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and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
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Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
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And the Child grew and became strong (note: BYZ and TR became strong in spirit). He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
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When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
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Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
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Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
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When 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.”
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“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
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Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
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