1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (路3:1; 徒5:37; 徒17:7)2This was the first registration when[1] Quirinius was governor of Syria. (路2:1; 路3:1)3And all went to be registered, each to his own town.4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, (撒上16:1; 太2:1; 太2:23; 路1:26; 路1:27; 路2:11; 约7:42)5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,[2] who was with child.6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. (路2:4)7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.[3] (路2:12; 路2:16; 路22:11)
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (路9:31; 路24:4; 徒7:55; 徒12:7; 林后3:18)10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (亚9:9; 路2:32; 约11:50)11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (赛9:6; 太1:17; 太1:21; 路1:43; 路2:4; 路23:2; 约4:42; 徒2:36; 徒10:36)12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (撒上2:34; 王下19:29; 王下20:8; 赛7:11; 赛7:14; 路2:7)13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (创28:12; 创32:1; 王上22:19; 代下18:18; 诗103:21; 诗148:2; 但7:10; 启5:11)14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[4] (诗85:10; 诗148:1; 赛9:6; 该2:9; 太6:10; 太21:9; 太28:18; 路1:79; 路3:22; 路10:21; 路12:32; 路19:38; 约17:4; 徒7:49; 徒10:36; 羅5:1; 弗1:5; 弗1:9; 弗2:14; 弗2:17; 弗3:15; 腓2:13; 西1:16; 西1:20; 启5:13)15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (路2:7; 路2:12)17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (创37:11; 路1:66; 路2:51)20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (路7:16)21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (太1:21; 太1:25; 路1:31; 路1:59)
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (撒上1:22; 撒上1:24; 路2:21; 路2:27; 加4:4)23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) (出13:2; 出13:9; 出13:12; 代下31:3; 路2:39)24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” (利12:8; 路2:23)25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (创49:18; 赛25:9; 赛40:1; 赛57:18; 可15:43; 路1:6; 路2:38; 路23:51; 徒2:5; 徒8:2; 徒22:12)26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (撒上24:6; 诗89:48; 路9:20; 路23:35; 约8:51; 徒2:27; 來11:5)27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, (路2:33; 路2:41; 路2:43; 路2:48)28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, (路1:64)29“Lord, now you are letting your servant[5] depart in peace, according to your word; (创15:15; 路2:26)30for my eyes have seen your salvation (赛52:10; 路3:6)31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (诗98:2; 路24:47)32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (赛42:6; 赛45:25; 赛46:13; 赛49:6; 赛52:10; 赛60:3; 路2:10; 约8:12; 徒13:47; 徒26:23)33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. (路2:27)34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (赛8:14; 太21:44; 约9:39; 徒28:22; 林前1:23; 林后2:16; 彼前2:8)35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, (出15:20)37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[6] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. (太6:16; 路5:33; 徒13:2; 徒14:23; 林后6:5; 林后11:27; 提前5:5)38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (路1:68; 路2:25)
The Return to Nazareth
39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. (路2:4; 路2:23)40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (路1:80)
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (出23:15; 申16:1; 撒上1:3; 路2:27; 约2:13)42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. (约11:55)43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, (出12:15; 利23:8; 申16:3; 路2:41)44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (太26:55; 路5:17)47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48And when his parents[7] saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” (路2:27; 路2:49)49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[8] (路13:33; 约2:16; 约14:2)50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. (可9:32; 路18:34)51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. (路2:19)52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[9] and in favor with God and man. (撒上2:26)