1Naqueles dias, César Augusto publicou um decreto ordenando o recenseamento de todo o império romano.2Este foi o primeiro recenseamento feito quando Quirino era governador da Síria.3E todos iam para a sua cidade natal, a fim de alistar-se.4Assim, José também foi da cidade de Nazaré da Galileia para a Judeia, para Belém, cidade de Davi, porque pertencia à casa e à linhagem de Davi.5Ele foi a fim de alistar-se, com Maria, que lhe estava prometida em casamento e esperava um filho.6Enquanto estavam lá, chegou o tempo de nascer o bebê,7e ela deu à luz o seu primogênito. Envolveu-o em panos e o colocou numa manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.
Os Pastores e os Anjos
8Havia pastores que estavam nos campos próximos e durante a noite tomavam conta dos seus rebanhos.9E aconteceu que um anjo do Senhor apareceu-lhes e a glória do Senhor resplandeceu ao redor deles; e ficaram aterrorizados.10Mas o anjo lhes disse: “Não tenham medo. Estou trazendo boas-novas de grande alegria para vocês, que são para todo o povo:11Hoje, na cidade de Davi, nasceu o Salvador, que é Cristo[1], o Senhor.12Isto servirá de sinal para vocês: encontrarão o bebê envolto em panos e deitado numa manjedoura”.13De repente, uma grande multidão do exército celestial apareceu com o anjo, louvando a Deus e dizendo:14“Glória a Deus nas alturas, e paz na terra aos homens aos quais ele concede o seu favor”.15Quando os anjos os deixaram e foram para os céus, os pastores disseram uns aos outros: “Vamos a Belém, e vejamos isso que aconteceu, e que o Senhor nos deu a conhecer”.16Então correram para lá e encontraram Maria e José e o bebê deitado na manjedoura.17Depois de o verem, contaram a todos o que lhes fora dito a respeito daquele menino,18e todos os que ouviram o que os pastores diziam ficaram admirados.19Maria, porém, guardava todas essas coisas e sobre elas refletia em seu coração.20Os pastores voltaram glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo o que tinham visto e ouvido, como lhes fora dito.
Jesus é Apresentado no Templo
21Completando-se os oito dias para a circuncisão do menino, foi-lhe posto o nome de Jesus, o qual lhe tinha sido dado pelo anjo antes de ele nascer.22Completando-se o tempo da purificação deles, de acordo com a Lei de Moisés, José e Maria o levaram a Jerusalém para apresentá-lo ao Senhor23(como está escrito na Lei do Senhor: “Todo primogênito do sexo masculino será consagrado ao Senhor”)24e para oferecer um sacrifício, de acordo com o que diz a Lei do Senhor: “duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos”.25Havia em Jerusalém um homem chamado Simeão, que era justo e piedoso, e que esperava a consolação de Israel; e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele.26Fora-lhe revelado pelo Espírito Santo que ele não morreria antes de ver o Cristo do Senhor.27Movido pelo Espírito, ele foi ao templo. Quando os pais trouxeram o menino Jesus para lhe fazerem o que requeria o costume da Lei,28Simeão o tomou nos braços e louvou a Deus, dizendo:29“Ó Soberano, como prometeste, agora podes despedir em paz o teu servo.30Pois os meus olhos já viram a tua salvação,31que preparaste à vista de todos os povos:32luz para revelação aos gentios[2] e para a glória de Israel, teu povo”.33O pai e a mãe do menino estavam admirados com o que fora dito a respeito dele.34E Simeão os abençoou e disse a Maria, mãe de Jesus: “Este menino está destinado a causar a queda e o soerguimento de muitos em Israel, e a ser um sinal de contradição,35de modo que o pensamento de muitos corações será revelado. Quanto a você, uma espada atravessará a sua alma”.36Estava ali a profetisa Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser. Era muito idosa; tinha vivido com seu marido sete anos depois de se casar37e então permanecera viúva até a idade de oitenta e quatro anos[3]. Nunca deixava o templo: adorava a Deus jejuando e orando dia e noite.38Tendo chegado ali naquele exato momento, deu graças a Deus e falava a respeito do menino a todos os que esperavam a redenção de Jerusalém.39Depois de terem feito tudo o que era exigido pela Lei do Senhor, voltaram para a sua própria cidade, Nazaré, na Galileia.40O menino crescia e se fortalecia, enchendo-se de sabedoria; e a graça de Deus estava sobre ele.
O Menino Jesus no Templo
41Todos os anos seus pais iam a Jerusalém para a festa da Páscoa.42Quando ele completou doze anos de idade, eles subiram à festa, conforme o costume.43Terminada a festa, voltando seus pais para casa, o menino Jesus ficou em Jerusalém, sem que eles percebessem.44Pensando que ele estava entre os companheiros de viagem, caminharam o dia todo. Então começaram a procurá-lo entre seus parentes e conhecidos.45Não o encontrando, voltaram a Jerusalém para procurá-lo.46Depois de três dias o encontraram no templo, sentado entre os mestres, ouvindo-os e fazendo-lhes perguntas.47Todos os que o ouviam ficavam maravilhados com o seu entendimento e com as suas respostas.48Quando seus pais o viram, ficaram perplexos. Sua mãe lhe disse: “Filho, por que você nos fez isto? Seu pai e eu estávamos aflitos, à sua procura”.49Ele perguntou: “Por que vocês estavam me procurando? Não sabiam que eu devia estar na casa de meu Pai?”50Mas eles não compreenderam o que lhes dizia.51Então foi com eles para Nazaré e era-lhes obediente. Sua mãe, porém, guardava todas essas coisas em seu coração.52Jesus ia crescendo em sabedoria, estatura e graça diante de Deus e dos homens.
1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (Lc 3:1; At 5:37; At 17:7)2This was the first registration when[1] Quirinius was governor of Syria. (Lc 2:1; Lc 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, (1 Sm 16:1; Mt 2:1; Mt 2:23; Lc 1:26; Lc 1:27; Lc 2:11; Jo 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. (Lc 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] (Lc 2:12; Lc 2:16; Lc 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. (Lc 9:31; Lc 24:4; At 7:55; At 12:7; 2 Co 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. (Zc 9:9; Lc 2:32; Jo 11:50)11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Is 9:6; Mt 1:17; Mt 1:21; Lc 1:43; Lc 2:4; Lc 23:2; Jo 4:42; At 2:36; At 10:36)12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (1 Sm 2:34; 2 Rs 19:29; 2 Rs 20:8; Is 7:11; Is 7:14; Lc 2:7)13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (Gn 28:12; Gn 32:1; 1 Rs 22:19; 2 Cr 18:18; Sl 103:21; Sl 148:2; Dn 7:10; Ap 5:11)14“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[4] (Sl 85:10; Sl 148:1; Is 9:6; Ag 2:9; Mt 6:10; Mt 21:9; Mt 28:18; Lc 1:79; Lc 3:22; Lc 10:21; Lc 12:32; Lc 19:38; Jo 17:4; At 7:49; At 10:36; Rm 5:1; Ef 1:5; Ef 1:9; Ef 2:14; Ef 2:17; Ef 3:15; Fp 2:13; Cl 1:16; Cl 1:20; Ap 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. (Lc 2:7; Lc 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. (Gn 37:11; Lc 1:66; Lc 2:51)20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Lc 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. (Mt 1:21; Mt 1:25; Lc 1:31; Lc 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 (1 Sm 1:22; 1 Sm 1:24; Lc 2:21; Lc 2:27; Gl 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”) (Ex 13:2; Ex 13:9; Ex 13:12; 2 Cr 31:3; Lc 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.” (Lv 12:8; Lc 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. (Gn 49:18; Is 25:9; Is 40:1; Is 57:18; Mc 15:43; Lc 1:6; Lc 2:38; Lc 23:51; At 2:5; At 8:2; At 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. (1 Sm 24:6; Sl 89:48; Lc 9:20; Lc 23:35; Jo 8:51; At 2:27; Hb 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, (Lc 2:33; Lc 2:41; Lc 2:43; Lc 2:48)28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, (Lc 1:64)29“Lord, now you are letting your servant[5] depart in peace, according to your word; (Gn 15:15; Lc 2:26)30for my eyes have seen your salvation (Is 52:10; Lc 3:6)31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (Sl 98:2; Lc 24:47)32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (Is 42:6; Is 45:25; Is 46:13; Is 49:6; Is 52:10; Is 60:3; Lc 2:10; Jo 8:12; At 13:47; At 26:23)33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. (Lc 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 (Is 8:14; Mt 21:44; Jo 9:39; At 28:22; 1 Co 1:23; 2 Co 2:16; 1 Pe 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, (Ex 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. (Mt 6:16; Lc 5:33; At 13:2; At 14:23; 2 Co 6:5; 2 Co 11:27; 1 Tm 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. (Lc 1:68; Lc 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. (Lc 2:4; Lc 2:23)40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. (Lc 1:80)
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. (Ex 23:15; Dt 16:1; 1 Sm 1:3; Lc 2:27; Jo 2:13)42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. (Jo 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, (Ex 12:15; Lv 23:8; Dt 16:3; Lc 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. (Mt 26:55; Lc 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.” (Lc 2:27; Lc 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] (Lc 13:33; Jo 2:16; Jo 14:2)50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. (Mc 9:32; Lc 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. (Lc 2:19)52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[9] and in favor with God and man. (1 Sm 2:26)