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Luke 2
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Luke 2
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Mary Gives Birth In Bethlehem, Where She And Joseph Went Because of The Roman Census
2 Now it came about during those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus[a] that all the world should be registered[b]. 2 This first[c] registration took place while Quirinius was being-governor of Syria. 3 And they were all going to register-themselves[d]— each one to his own city[e]. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem— because of his being from the house and family of David— 5 so as to register himself with Mary, the one having been promised-in-marriage to him, being pregnant. 6 And it came about during their being there that the days were fulfilled that she might give-birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped Him in swaddling-cloths[f], and laid Him in a manger[g], because there was not a place for them in the inn.
Angels Announce The Birth of The Savior To Shepherds In The Field
8 And shepherds were in the same region, living-in-the-fields and watching over their flock for watches of the night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shined around them, and they feared a great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be fearing. For behold— I am announcing-as-good-news to you a great joy which will be for all the people, 11 because[h] a Savior was born for you today in the city of David, Who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby having been wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger”. 13 And suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host was with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest [heavens]. And peace on earth among people of [i] [His] good-will[j]”. 15 And it came about that when the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing having taken place which the Lord made-known to us”. 16 And they came, having hurried, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And having seen Him, they made-known about the thing having been spoken to them about this Child. 18 And all the ones having heard it marveled about the things having been spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was preserving[k] all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything which they heard and saw, just as it was spoken to them.
His Name Is Called Jesus
21 And when eight days were fulfilled that they might circumcise Him, His name was indeed called Jesus— the name having been named by the angel before[l] He was conceived in the womb.
The Parents Bring Jesus To The Temple To Redeem Him Before The Lord
22 And when the days of their purification according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled[m], they brought Him up to Jerusalem so as to present Him to the Lord 23 just as it has been written in the Law of the Lord [in Ex 13:2], that “every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”; 24 and that she might give a sacrifice in accordance with the thing having been said in the Law of the Lord [in Lev 12:8]: “a pair of turtledoves or two young ones of pigeons”.
Simeon Recognizes The Child As The Messiah, But a Sword Will Pierce Mary’s Soul
25 And behold— a man was in Jerusalem for whom the name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and reverent[n], waiting-for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Christ of the Lord. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And at the parents bringing-in the child Jesus that they might do for Him according to the thing[o] having become-a-custom from the Law, 28 he also took Him into his arms. And he blessed God, and said, 29 “Now You are releasing Your slave in peace in accordance with Your word, Master, 30 because my eyes saw Your salvation 31 which You prepared in the presence of all the peoples— 32 the light for the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel”. 33 And His father and mother were marveling at the things being spoken about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold— this One is appointed[p] for[q] the falling and rising of many in Israel, and for[r] a sign being spoken-against[s]— 35 and indeed a sword will pierce the soul of you yourself— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”.
Anna The Prophet Thanks God For the Child
36 And there was Anna— a prophet, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. This one was advanced in her many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and herself being a widow up-to[t] eighty four years, who was not departing from the temple, serving[u] night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 And having come-upon them at the very hour, she was returning-thanks to God, and was speaking about Him to all the ones waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Family Returns To Nazareth In Galilee
39 And when they finished all the things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee— to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child was growing and becoming strong, while being filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him.
In Jerusalem At Age Twelve, Jesus Stays Behind When His Parents Leave For Home
41 And His parents were going to Jerusalem yearly for the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve years old— they going up in accordance with the custom of the Feast, 43 and having completed the days— during their returning, the boy Jesus stayed-behind in Jerusalem. And His parents did not know it, 44 but having thought that He was in the caravan[v], they went a day’s journey. And they were searching-for Him among the relatives and the acquaintances. 45 And not having found Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching-for Him.
Jesus Is Found In The Temple Listening To And Questioning The Teachers
46 And it came about after three days that they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening-to them and questioning them. 47 And all the ones listening-to Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. 48 And having seen Him, they were astounded. And His mother said to Him, “Child, why did you do[w] us like this? Behold— Your father and I were looking-for You, while suffering-pain”. 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking-for Me? Did you not know that I must be in[x] the things of My[y] Father? 50 And they did not understand the thing which He spoke to them. 51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was being subject to them. And His mother was keeping all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
Footnotes
- Luke 2:1 This Roman emperor, also known as Octavian, ruled from 27 b.c to a.d. 14.
- Luke 2:1 Or, enrolled, listed on a census roll.
- Luke 2:2 Or, This was the first registration while. This was in about 4 b.c. A second, or a finishing of this first one, took place in a.d. 6, and is mentioned in Act 5:37.
- Luke 2:3 Or, be registered.
- Luke 2:3 This indicates Herod was conducting the census according to Jewish customs.
- Luke 2:7 That is, bands of cloth.
- Luke 2:7 That is, an animal feeding trough in a stall or stable, as in 13:15.
- Luke 2:11 Or, that.
- Luke 2:14 That is, people who are recipients or objects of His good-will, people with whom He is pleased; or, people characterized by good-will toward God. Some manuscripts say ‘earth, good-will among people’.
- Luke 2:14 Or, good-pleasure, favor.
- Luke 2:19 Or, treasuring-up, holding in memory.
- Luke 2:21 In other words, the Child’s Father chose His name.
- Luke 2:22 That is, after 33 more days, Lev 12:1-8.
- Luke 2:25 Or, God-fearing, devout.
- Luke 2:27 Luke is referring to the practice in v 23.
- Luke 2:34 Or, destined.
- Luke 2:34 That is, for the purpose of causing a fall.
- Luke 2:34 That is, for the purpose of becoming a sign.
- Luke 2:34 Or, opposed, contradicted.
- Luke 2:37 Or, until. That is, until her 84th year; or, for 84 years after becoming a widow.
- Luke 2:37 Or, worshiping.
- Luke 2:44 Or, travel-group.
- Luke 2:48 Or, act toward us.
- Luke 2:49 That is, engaged in the interests or business of My Father (answering the stated ‘Why’ question); or, located in the possessions or house of My Father (answering the implied ‘Where’ question).
- Luke 2:49 Note the contrast with ‘your father’ in v 48.
Luke 2
New International Version
Luke 2
New International Version
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus(A) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(B) 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(C) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(D) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(E) and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel(F) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.(G) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior(H) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(I) the Lord.(J) 12 This will be a sign(K) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace(L) to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.(M) 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.(N) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(O) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,(P) he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.(Q)
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(R) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[b]),(S) 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[c](T)
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(U) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(V) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,(W) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(X)
you may now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.(Y)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(Z)
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”(AA)
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(AB) “This child is destined to cause the falling(AC) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet,(AD) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e](AE) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(AF) 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.(AG)
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.(AH) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(AI)
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.(AJ) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed(AK) at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother(AL) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father(AM) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[f](AN) 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.(AO)
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them(AP) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(AQ) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(AR)
Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT) 
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
New International Version (NIV) 
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