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In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree
that a census should be take of the entire Roman world.
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(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
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And everyone went to his own town to register.
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So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea,
to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
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He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him
and was expecting a child.
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While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
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and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths
and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night.
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An angel of the Lord appeared to 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,
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
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Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
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This will be a sign to you;
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
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Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
prasing God and saying,
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"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
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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."
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So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby,
who was lying in the manger.
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When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning
what had been told them about this child,
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and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
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But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
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The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things
they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
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On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him,
he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
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When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed,
Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
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(as it is written in the Law of the Lord,
"Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),
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and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord:
"a pair of dove or two young pigeons."
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Now there was a man in Jerusalem called 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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It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die
before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
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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,
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Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
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Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
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For my eyes have seen your salvation,
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which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
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a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
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The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
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Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:
"This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
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so that thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.
And a sword will pierce your own soul too."
36
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage.
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and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but
worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
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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.
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When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee to their town of Nazareth.
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And the child grew and became strong;
he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
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Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.
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When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.
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After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
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Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.
Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
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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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Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him,
"Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously
searching for you."
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"Why were you searching for me?" he asked.
"Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
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But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
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Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.
But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
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and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
