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(Mt. 1:18-25)
2 <1> It was about that same time that Augustus Caesar[25] sent out an order to all people in the countries that were under Roman rule. The order said that everyone's name must be put on a list. <2> This was the first counting of all the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. <3> Everyone traveled to their own hometowns to have their name put on the list.
<4> So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. It was known as the town of David.[26] Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. <5> Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (She was now pregnant.) <6> While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. <7> She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him up well and laid him in a box where cattle are fed. She put him there because the guest room was full.
<8> That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep. <9> An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory[27] of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. <10> The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid. I have some very good news for you-news that will make everyone happy. <11> Today your Savior was born in David's town. He is Christ,[28] the Lord. <12> This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box."
<13> Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,
<14> "Praise God in heaven,
and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him."
<15> The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, "What a great event this is that the Lord has told us about. Let's go to Bethlehem and see it."
<16> So they went running and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box. <17> When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child. <18> Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them. <19> Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them. <20> The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.
<21> When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised,[29] and he was named Jesus. This name was given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.
<22> The time came for Mary and Joseph to do the things the law of Moses[30] taught about being made pure.[31] They brought Jesus to Jerusalem so that they could present him to the Lord. <23> It is written in the law of the Lord: "When a mother's first baby is a boy, he shall be called 'special for the Lord.'"[32] <24> The law of the Lord also says that people must give a sacrifice[33]: "You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons."[34] So Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem to do this.
<25> A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was a good man who was devoted to God. He was waiting for the time when God would come to help Israel.[35] The Holy Spirit[36] was with him. <26> The Holy Spirit told him that he would not die before he saw the Christ[37] from the Lord. <27> The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple.[38] So he was there when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to do what the Jewish law said they must do. <28> Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
<29> "Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.
<30> I have seen with my own eyes how you will save your people.
<31> Now all people can see your plan.
<32> He is a light to show your way to the other nations.
And he will bring honor to your people Israel."
<33> Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what Simeon said about him. <34> Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, "Many Jews will fall and many will rise because of this boy. He will be a sign from God that some will not accept. <35> So the secret thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that happen will be painful for you-like a sword cutting through your heart."
<36> Anna, a prophetess,[39] was there at the Temple.[40] She was from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. She was now very old. She had lived with her husband seven years <37> before he died and left her alone. She was now 84 years old. Anna was always at the Temple; she never left. She worshiped God by fasting[41] and praying day and night.
<38> Anna was there when Joseph and Mary came to the Temple. She praised God and talked about Jesus to all those who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.
<39> Joseph and Mary finished doing all the things that the law of the Lord commanded. Then they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee. <40> The little boy Jesus was developing into a mature young man, full of wisdom. God was blessing him.
<41> Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover[42] festival. <42> When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. <43> When the festival was over, they went home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know about it. <44> They traveled for a whole day thinking that Jesus was with them in the group. They began looking for him among their family and close friends, <45> but they did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there.
<46> After three days they found him. Jesus was sitting in the Temple[43] area with the religious teachers, listening and asking them questions. <47> Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and wise answers. <48> When his parents saw him, they wondered how this was possible. And his mother said, "Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been looking for you."
<49> Jesus said to them, "Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be where my Father's work is.[44]" <50> But they did not understand the meaning of what he said to them.
<51> Jesus went with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. His mother was still thinking about all these things. <52> As Jesus grew taller, he continued to grow in wisdom. God was pleased with him and so were the people who knew him.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.