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2:1
Now it happened at that time that a decree from Caesar Augustus was issued
that everyone in the known world was to be registered. This registration was first ordered when Cyrenius
governed Syria. And so everyone went to be registered,
each man to his original city. So
Joseph also went from a city in Galilee called Nazareth
to a city of David in Judea. This was called Bethlehem. He went there because he was of the house
and family of David. He took Mary
who had been betrothed to him. She
was pregnant. And it happened that
while they were there her time of pregnancy was completed and she was to
give birth. She bore her son who was
the firstborn. She wrapped him in
swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for
them in the inn. There were
shepherds there in the same countryside.
They were in the fields keeping guard over their flock during the
night. Suddenly an angel of the Lord
came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were very afraid. The angel said to them. "Do not be afraid. I am announcing to you something which
will be a great joy to all people because to-day a Saviour has been born to
you. He is Christ the Lord in a city
of David. This is a sign for you. You will find a baby
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who
had been wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Then suddenly there was with the angel a
big army of heavenly beings praising God and saying "Glory to God in
the highest places and on earth peace amongst people of good
will." When the angels went
away from them into heaven the shepherds said to one another. "Let us go then to Bethlehem and let us see this thing that
has happened and which the Lord has made known to us." So they came quickly and found both Mary
and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this they told others about
what had been spoken to them about this child. Everyone on hearing about it
marvelled. But Mary kept all these
things in her heart pondering on them.
The shepherds returned (to the fields) glorifying and praising God
about all the things which had been spoken to them and which they had heard
and saw.
When
eight days were completed and it was time to circumcise him (the child) he
was called Jesus. This was the name
given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When, as was the custom according to the
law of Moses, the days of their cleansing were completed, they took him
(the
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child)
up to Jerusalem
to present to the Lord. It has been
written in the law of the Lord that every male opening a womb will be
called holy to the Lord. Therefore a sacrifice according to the law is
required. This is a pair of
turtledoves or two nestlings of doves.
Now behold there was a man in Jerusalem
whose name was Simeon. He was a just
and devout man who was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been communicated to him by the
Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he should see the Christ of
the Lord. So he came by the Spirit
into the temple when the parents of the child Jesus brought him in
according to the custom of the law.
He (Simeon) received him in his arms and blessed God and said.
"Now you can release this servant of yours Master, according to your
will. My eyes have seen your
salvation which you have prepared for the face of all the people. This is a light of revelation for the
nations and a glory of the people of Israel." The father (of the child) and his mother were marvelling at the
things being said concerning him.
Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother. "Behold this child is set for the
fall and rising again of many in Israel and will be a sign that
is spoken against. And as for
yourself a sword will pierce through your soul so that the hearts and
thoughts of many may be revealed."
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