2In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered.G1161G1096G1722G1565G2250G1831G1378G3844G2541G828G3956G3625G5832This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.G3778G582G1096G4413G1096G2958G2230G49473So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.G2532G3956G4198G583G1538G1519G2398G41724And Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David,G1161G2501G2532G305G575G1056G1537G4172G3478G1519G2449G1519G4172G1138G3748G2564G965G1223G846G1511G1537G3624G2532G3965G11385to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.G583G4862G3137G846G3423G1135G5607G14716While they were there, the time came for her to give birth.G1161G1096G1722G846G1511G1563G2250G4130G846G50887Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough— because there was no room for them at the inn.G2532G5088G846G4416G5207G2532G4683G846G4683G2532G347G846G1722G5336G1360G2258G3756G5117G846G1722G26468In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.G2532G2258G1722G846G5561G4166G63G2532G5442G5438G1909G846G4167G35719Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.G2532G2400G32G2962G2186G846G2532G1391G2962G4034G846G2532G3173G5399G540110But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:G2532G32G2036G846G5399G3361G1063G2400G2097G5213G2097G3173G5479G3748G2071G3956G299211today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.G3754G5213G5088G4594G1722G4172G1138G4990G3739G2076G5547G296212This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger."G2532G5124G4592G5213G2147G1025G4683G2749G1722G533613Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:G2532G1810G1096G4862G32G4128G3770G4756G134G2316G2532G300414Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!G1391G2316G1722G5310G2532G1909G1093G1515G2107G1722G44415When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."G2532G1096G5613G32G565G575G846G1519G3772G2532G444G4166G2036G240G4314G240G1330G1211G1330G2193G965G2532G1492G5124G4487G1096G3739G3588G2962G1107G225416They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.G2532G2064G4692G2532G5037G429G3137G2532G2501G2532G1025G2749G1722G533617After seeing [them], they reported the message they were told about this child,G1161G1492G1232G4012G4487G3588G2980G846G4012G5127G381318and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.G2532G3956G191G2296G4012G3588G2980G4314G846G5259G416619But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.G1161G3137G4933G3956G4487G5023G4820G1722G846G258820The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.G2532G4166G1994G1392G2532G134G2316G1909G3956G3739G191G2532G1492G2531G2980G4314G84621When the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named JESUS— the name given by the angel before He was conceived.G2532G3753G3638G2250G4130G4059G3813G2532G846G3686G2564G2424G3588G2564G5259G32G4253G846G4815G1722G283622And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the LordG2532G3753G2250G846G2512G2596G3551G3475G4130G321G846G1519G2414G3936G296223(just as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord)G2531G1125G1722G3551G2962G3754G3956G730G1272G3388G2564G40G296224and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons).G2532G1325G2378G2596G2046G1722G3551G2962G2201G5167G2228G1417G3502G405825There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel's consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.G2532G2400G2258G444G1722G2419G3739G3686G4826G2532G3778G444G1342G2532G2126G4327G3874G2474G2532G40G4151G2258G1909G84626It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Messiah.G2532G2258G5537G846G5259G40G4151G1492G3361G1492G2288G4250G2228G1492G2962G554727Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law,G2532G2064G1722G4151G1519G2411G2532G1118G1521G1722G3813G2424G4160G846G4012G846G2596G1480G355128Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said:G2532G1209G846G846G1209G1519G846G43G2532G2127G2316G2532G203629Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, according to Your word.G1203G3568G630G4675G1401G630G1722G1515G2596G4675G448730For my eyes have seen Your salvation.G3754G3450G3788G1492G4675G499231You have prepared [it] in the presence of all peoples—G3739G2090G2596G4383G3956G299232a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.G5457G1519G602G1484G2532G1391G4675G2992G247433His father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him.G2532G2501G2532G846G3384G2258G2296G1909G2980G4012G84634Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed—G2532G4826G2127G846G2532G2036G4314G3137G846G3384G2400G3778G2749G1519G4431G2532G386G4183G1722G2474G2532G1519G4592G48335and a sword will pierce your own soul— that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."G1161G4501G1330G4675G846G5590G2532G3704G1261G1537G4183G2588G302G60136There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,G2532G2258G451G4398G2364G5323G1537G5443G768G3778G846G4183G1722G2250G4260G2198G3326G435G2033G2094G575G846G393237and was a widow for 84 years. She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.G2532G3778G5503G5613G3589G5064G2094G3739G868G3756G575G2411G3000G3521G2532G1162G3571G2532G225038At that very moment, she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.G2532G3778G846G2186G846G5610G437G2962G2532G2980G4012G846G3956G4327G3085G1722G241939When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.G2532G5613G5055G537G2596G3551G2962G5290G1519G1056G1519G846G4172G347840The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him.G1161G3813G837G2532G2901G4151G4137G4678G2532G5485G2316G2258G1909G84641Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.G2532G846G1118G4198G1519G2419G2596G2094G1859G395742When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.G2532G3753G1096G1427G2094G846G305G1519G2414G2596G1485G185943After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it.G2532G5048G2250G1722G846G5290G3816G2424G5278G1722G2419G2532G2501G2532G846G3384G1097G375644Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.G1161G3543G846G1511G1722G4923G2064G2250G3598G2532G327G846G1722G4773G2532G1722G111045When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.G2532G2147G846G3361G5290G1519G2419G2212G84646After three days, they found Him in the temple complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.G2532G1096G3326G5140G2250G2147G846G1722G2411G2516G1722G3319G1320G2532G191G846G2532G1905G846G190547And all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.G1161G3956G191G846G1839G1909G846G4907G2532G61248When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You."G2532G1492G846G1605G2532G846G3384G2036G4314G846G5043G5101G4160G3779G4160G2254G2400G4675G3962G2504G2212G4571G360049"Why were you searching for Me?" He asked them. "Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"G2532G2036G4314G846G5101G3754G2212G3165G1492G3756G3754G3165G1163G1511G1722G3450G396250But they did not understand what He said to them.G2532G846G4920G3756G4487G3739G2980G84651Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.G2532G2597G3326G846G2532G2064G1519G3478G2532G2258G5293G846G2532G846G3384G1301G3956G5023G4487G1722G846G258852And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.G2532G2424G4298G4678G2532G2244G2532G5485G3844G2316G2532G444
Dublin, OH
