Luke2
New International Version
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3And everyone went to their own town to register.
4So 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.
5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7and 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.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly 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 to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When 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.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, 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”),
24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25Now 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 on him.
26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27Moved 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,
28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.
34Then 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,
35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet, 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,
37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38Coming 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.
39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.
42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.
43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48When 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.”
49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The birth of Christ. (1–7). It is made known to the shepherds. (8–20). Christ presented in the temple. (21–24). Simeon prophesies concerning Jesus. (25–35). Anna prophesies concerning him. (36–40). Christ with the learned men in the temple. (41–52).
vv1-7
The fulness of time was now come, when God would send forth his Son, made of a woman, and made under the law. The circumstances of his birth were very mean. Christ was born at an inn; he came into the world to sojourn here for awhile, as at an inn, and to teach us to do likewise. We are become by sin like an outcast infant, helpless and forlorn; and such a one was Christ. He well knew how unwilling we are to be meanly lodged, clothed, or fed; how we desire to have our children decorated and indulged; how apt the poor are to envy the rich, and how prone the rich to disdain the poor. But when we by faith view the Son of God being made man and lying in a manger, our vanity, ambition, and envy are checked. We cannot, with this object rightly before us, seek great things for ourselves or our children.
vv8-20
Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.
vv21-24
Our Lord Jesus was not born in sin, and did not need that mortification of a corrupt nature, or that renewal unto holiness, which were signified by circumcision. This ordinance was, in his case, a pledge of his future perfect obedience to the whole law, in the midst of sufferings and temptations, even unto death for us. At the end of forty days, Mary went up to the temple to offer the appointed sacrifices for her purification. Joseph also presented the holy child Jesus, because, as a first-born son, he was to be presented to the Lord, and redeemed according to the law. Let us present our children to the Lord who gave them to us, beseeching him to redeem them from sin and death, and make them holy to himself.
Key Words
ἐκεῖνος (ekeînos): that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
δόγμα (dógma): a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical)
ἐξέρχομαι (exérchomai): to issue (literally or figuratively)
παρά (pará): properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of)
Καῖσαρ (Kaîsar): Cæsar, a title of the Roman emperor
Αὐγοῦστος (Augoûstos): Augustus, a title of the Roman emperor
πᾶς (pâs): all, any, every, the whole
οἰκουμένη (oikouménē): land, i.e. the (terrene part of the) globe; specially, the Roman empire
ἀπογράφω (apográphō): to write off (a copy or list), i.e. enrol
Cross References
Luke 2Prophetic prediction of Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, fulfilled via Augustus's decree.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The Mosaic law prescribing the period and requirements for a mother's purification after childbirth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The original law requiring every firstborn male to be consecrated to the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The provision for poor families to offer turtledoves/pigeons instead of a lamb.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Simeon's direct allusion to the Servant of the Lord being a light to the Gentiles.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Simeon echoes the language of the Messiah bringing salvation and light to the Gentiles.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Historical reference to the later census/taxing under Cyrenius that led to insurrection.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Bethlehem as the city of David, where David was anointed king.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of Mary being espoused to Joseph before they came together.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Theological significance of Christ's voluntary poverty at His incarnation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Verbal parallel to Jacob keeping Joseph's dreams in mind/heart, as Mary did here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy of a sword piercing Mary's soul at the cross.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Textual prototype of the child Samuel growing in favor with the Lord and men.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Socio-religious parallel to the NT standard of honorable, dedicated widows serving the church.
Supported by John Calvin
The law requiring all Jewish males to appear before the Lord three times a year.
Supported by Matthew Poole