Luke 2:21-40

Luke 2

The Presentation in the Temple

²¹ After eight days passed, when the child was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²² 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. ²³ (As it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn ^[1] male will be called holy to the Lord.”) ^{[2] 24} And they came to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” ^[3]

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, ²⁸ Simeon took him into his arms and praised God. He said,

³³ Joseph ^[4] and the child’s ^[5] mother were amazed at the things that were spoken about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Listen carefully, this child is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶ Anna, a prophetess, was there. She was a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, ^{[6] 37} and then she was a widow of eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple complex, since she was worshipping with fasting and prayers night and day. ³⁸ Standing nearby at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord. She kept speaking about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. ^[7]

³⁹ When they had accomplished everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town, Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The child grew and became strong. ^[8] He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.