Luke 2 Darby Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 But it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census should be made of all the habitable world.
1 Y ACONTECIÓ en aquellos días que salió edicto de parte de Augusto César, que toda la tierra fuese empadronada.
2 The census itself first took place when Cyrenius had the government of Syria.
2 Este empadronamiento primero fué hecho siendo Cirenio gobernador de la Siria.
3 And all went to be inscribed in the census roll, each to his own city:
3 E iban todos para ser empadronados, cada uno á su ciudad.
4 and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city Nazareth to Judaea, to David's city, the which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
4 Y subió José de Galilea, de la ciudad de Nazaret, á Judea, á la ciudad de David, que se llama Bethlehem, por cuanto era de la casa y familia de David;
5 to be inscribed in the census roll with Mary who was betrothed to him [as his] wife, she being great with child.
5 Para ser empadronado con María su mujer, desposada con él, la cual estaba en cinta.
6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days of her giving birth [to her child] were fulfilled,
6 Y aconteció que estando ellos allí, se cumplieron los días en que ella había de parir.
7 and she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes and laid him in the manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
7 Y parió á su hijo primogénito, y le envolvió en pañales, y acostóle en un pesebre, porque no había lugar para ellos en el mesón.
8 And there were shepherds in that country abiding without, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
8 Y había pastores en la misma tierra, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre su ganado.
9 And lo, an angel of [the] Lord was there by them, and [the] glory of [the] Lord shone around them, and they feared [with] great fear.
9 Y he aquí el ángel del Señor vino sobre ellos, y la claridad de Dios los cercó de resplandor; y tuvieron gran temor.
10 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I announce to you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people;
10 Mas el ángel les dijo: No temáis; porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que será para todo el pueblo:
11 for to-day a Saviour has been born to you in David's city, who is Christ [the] Lord.
11 Que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es CRISTO el Señor.
12 And this is the sign to you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and lying in a manger.
12 Y esto os [será] por señal: hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, echado en un pesebre.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
13 Y repentinamente fué con el ángel una multitud de los ejércitos celestiales, que alababan á Dios, y decían:
14 Gloria en las alturas á Dios, y en la tierra paz, buena voluntad para con los hombres.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels departed from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, Let us make our way then now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.
15 Y aconteció que como los ángeles se fueron de ellos al cielo, los pastores dijeron los unos á los otros: Pasemos pues hasta Bethlehem, y veamos esto que ha sucedido, que el Señor nos ha manifestado.
16 And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger;
16 Y vinieron apriesa, y hallaron á María, y á José, y al niño acostado en el pesebre.
17 and having seen [it] they made known about the country the thing which had been said to them concerning this child.
17 Y viéndolo, hicieron notorio lo que les había sido dicho del niño.
18 And all who heard [it] wondered at the things said to them by the shepherds.
18 Y todos los que oyeron, se maravillaron de lo que los pastores les decían.
19 But Mary kept all these things [in her mind], pondering [them] in her heart.
19 Mas María guardaba todas estas cosas, confiriéndolas en su corazón.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things which they had heard and seen, as it had been said to them.
20 Y se volvieron los pastores glorificando y alabando á Dios de todas las cosas que habían oído y visto, como les había sido dicho.
21 And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called Jesus, which was the name given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.
21 Y pasados los ocho días para circuncidar al niño, llamaron su nombre JESÚS; el cual [le] fué puesto por el ángel antes que él fuese concebido en el vientre.
22 And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought him to Jerusalem to present [him] to the Lord
22 Y como se cumplieron los días de la purificación de ella, conforme á la ley de Moisés, le trajeron á Jerusalem para presentarle al Señor,
23 (as it is written in the law of [the] Lord: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),
23 (Como está escrito en la ley del Señor: Todo varón que abriere la matriz, será llamado santo al Señor),
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of [the] Lord: A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.
24 Y para dar la ofrenda, conforme á lo que está dicho en la ley del Señor: un par de tórtolas, ó dos palominos.
25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and pious, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and [the] Holy Spirit was upon him.
25 Y he aquí, había un hombre en Jerusalem, llamado Simeón, y este hombre, justo y pío, esperaba la consolación de Israel: y el Espíritu Santo era sobre él.
26 And it was divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death before he should see [the] Lord's Christ.
26 Y había recibido respuesta del Espíritu Santo, que no vería la muerte antes que viese al Cristo del Señor.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and as the parents brought in the child Jesus that they might do for him according to the custom of the law,
27 Y vino por Espíritu al templo. Y cuando metieron al niño Jesús sus padres en el templo, para hacer por él conforme á la costumbre de la ley,
28 he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
28 Entonces él le tomó en sus brazos, y bendijo á Dios, y dijo:
29 Lord, now thou lettest thy bondman go, according to thy word, in peace;
29 Ahora despides, Señor, á tu siervo, conforme á tu palabra, en paz;
30 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
30 Porque han visto mis ojos tu salvación,
31 which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
31 La cual has aparejado en presencia de todos los pueblos;
32 a light for revelation of [the] Gentiles and [the] glory of thy people Israel.
32 Luz para ser revelada á los Gentiles, y la gloria de tu pueblo Israel.
33 And his father and mother wondered at the things which were said concerning him.
33 Y José y su madre estaban maravillados de las cosas que se decían de él.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Lo, this [child] is set for the fall and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign spoken against;
34 Y los bendijo Simeón, y dijo á su madre María: He aquí, éste es puesto para caída y para levantamiento de muchos en Israel; y para señal á la que será contradicho;
35 (and even a sword shall go through thine own soul;) so that [the] thoughts may be revealed from many hearts.
35 Y una espada traspasará tu alma de ti misma, para que sean manifestados los pensamientos de muchos corazones.
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of [the] tribe of Asher, who was far advanced in years, having lived with [her] husband seven years from her virginity,
36 Estaba también [allí] Ana, profetisa, hija de Phanuel, de la tribu de Aser; la cual había venido en grande edad, y había vivido con su marido siete años desde su virginidad;
37 and herself a widow up to eighty-four years; who did not depart from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers;
37 Y era viuda de hasta ochenta y cuatro años, que no se apartaba del templo, sirviendo de noche y de día con ayunos y oraciones.
38 and she coming up the same hour gave praise to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem.
38 Y ésta, sobreviniendo en la misma hora, juntamente confesaba al Señor, y hablaba de él á todos los que esperaban la redención en Jerusalem.
39 And when they had completed all things according to the law of [the] Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth.
39 Mas como cumplieron todas las cosas según la ley del Señor, se volvieron á Galilea, á su ciudad de Nazaret.
40 And the child grew and waxed strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon him.
40 Y el niño crecía, y fortalecíase, y se henchía de sabiduría; y la gracia de Dios era sobre él.
41 And his parents went yearly to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.
41 E iban sus padres todos los años á Jerusalem en la fiesta de la Pascua.
42 And when he was twelve years old, and they went up [to Jerusalem] according to the custom of the feast
42 Y cuando fué de doce años, subieron ellos á Jerusalem conforme á la costumbre del día de la fiesta.
43 and had completed the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents knew not [of it];
43 Y acabados los días, volviendo ellos, se quedó el niño Jesús en Jerusalem, sin saberlo José y su madre.
44 but, supposing him to be in the company that journeyed together, they went a day's journey, and sought him among their relations and acquaintances:
44 Y pensando que estaba en la compañía, anduvieron camino de un día; y le buscaban entre los parientes y entre los conocidos:
45 and not having found him they returned to Jerusalem seeking him.
45 Mas como no le hallasen, volvieron á Jerusalem buscándole.
46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers and hearing them and asking them questions.
46 Y aconteció, que tres días después le hallaron en el templo, sentado en medio de los doctores, oyéndoles y preguntándoles.
47 And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
47 Y todos los que le oían, se pasmaban de su entendimiento y de sus respuestas.
48 And when they saw him they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Child, why hast thou dealt thus with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee distressed.
48 Y cuando le vieron, se maravillaron; y díjole su madre: Hijo, ¿por qué nos has hecho así? He aquí, tu padre y yo te hemos buscado con dolor.
49 And he said to them, Why [is it] that ye have sought me? did ye not know that I ought to be [occupied] in my Father's business?
49 Entonces él les dice: ¿Qué hay? ¿por qué me buscabais? ¿No sabíais que en los negocios de mi Padre me conviene estar?
50 And they understood not the thing that he said to them.
50 Mas ellos no entendieron las palabras que les habló.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was in subjection to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.
51 Y descendió con ellos, y vino á Nazaret, y estaba sujeto á ellos. Y su madre guardaba todas estas cosas en su corazón.
52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
52 Y Jesús crecía en sabiduría, y en edad, y en gracia para con Dios y los hombres.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Anna
A prophetess of the tribe of Asher, well along in years, who never left the temple and gave thanks to God and spoke of the child to all who awaited redemption.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:36
Caesar Augustus
The emperor from whom a decree went out that the whole empire be registered, bringing Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:1
Joseph
The carpenter of Nazareth, a just man who became Jesus' legal father.
Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:16-25; 2:13-23; Luke 1:27; 2:1-7
Mary
The virgin mother of Jesus, a young woman of Nazareth who trusted God's word.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 1; Luke 1-2
Phanuel
Named in Luke 2:36 as the father of the prophetess Anna.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:36
Simeon
A righteous and devout man of Jerusalem, told by the Holy Spirit he would not die before seeing the Lord's Christ, who took the child in his arms and blessed God.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:25; Luke 2:34
Places
Bethlehem
Bethlehem was the home of Ruth and Boaz and the birthplace of David. Micah named it as the Messiah's birthplace — fulfilled in Jesus' nativity.
Cited in the guide: Micah 5:2; Ruth 1:19; Luke 2:4-7
Nazareth
A small agricultural village never named in the Old Testament. Jesus spent his childhood and early life here before beginning his public ministry.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:39-40; Matthew 2:23; John 1:46
Cross references (49)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 3:1; Matthew 24:14; Acts 25:21
- 2 Luke 3:1
- 4 Micah 5:2; John 7:42; 1 Samuel 16:1; Matthew 2:23; Luke 1:26–27
- 5 Matthew 1:18–19; Deuteronomy 22:22–27
- 6 Psalm 33:11; Revelation 12:1–5; Micah 5:2; Proverbs 19:21; Luke 1:57
- 7 Galatians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Isaiah 53:2–3; John 1:14; Luke 2:11–12
- 8 Psalm 78:70–71; Genesis 31:39–40; John 10:8–12; 1 Samuel 17:34–35; Ezekiel 34:8
- 9 Isaiah 60:1; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Acts 27:23; Revelation 18:1; 1 Kings 8:11
- 10 Isaiah 40:9; Isaiah 61:1; Isaiah 52:7; Genesis 12:3; Matthew 28:18
- 11 Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21; Titus 3:4–7; Acts 2:36; Matthew 16:16
- 12 Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1–2; Isaiah 7:11; Psalm 22:6; 2 Kings 19:29
- 13 Revelation 5:11; Psalm 148:2; Psalm 103:20–21; 1 Kings 22:19; Luke 15:10
- 14 Romans 5:1; Luke 19:38; Luke 1:79; Colossians 1:20; Isaiah 9:6–7
- 15 1 Peter 3:22; Matthew 2:1–2; Luke 24:51; Exodus 3:3; Matthew 2:9–11
- 16 Luke 19:32; Luke 2:12; Luke 2:7; Luke 22:13; Luke 1:39
- 17 Psalm 66:16; Luke 8:39; Psalm 71:17–18; Luke 2:38; Psalm 16:9–10
- 18 Luke 1:65–66; Luke 4:36; Luke 2:33; Isaiah 8:18; Luke 5:9–10
- 19 Luke 2:51; Luke 1:66; Proverbs 4:4; 1 Samuel 21:12; Genesis 37:11
- 20 Psalm 106:48; Acts 11:18; 1 Chronicles 29:10–12; Psalm 72:17–19; Matthew 9:8
- 21 Leviticus 12:3; Genesis 17:12; Luke 1:31; Luke 1:59; Matthew 1:21
- 22 Leviticus 12:1–8
- 23 Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:13; Exodus 22:29; Numbers 18:15; Exodus 34:19
- 24 Leviticus 12:6–8; Leviticus 12:2; 2 Corinthians 8:9
- 25 Isaiah 25:9; Luke 2:38; Luke 1:6; Titus 2:11–14; Mark 15:43
- 26 John 8:51; Hebrews 11:5; Luke 9:27; Acts 10:38; John 20:31
- 27 Luke 2:22; Matthew 4:1; Luke 2:48; Luke 2:41; Acts 10:19
- 28 Luke 1:64; Luke 2:13–14; Mark 9:36; Luke 2:20; Mark 10:16
- 29 Revelation 14:13; Genesis 15:15; Philippians 1:23; Genesis 46:30; Isaiah 57:1–2
- 30 Isaiah 49:6; Luke 2:10–11; Genesis 49:18; Isaiah 52:10; Luke 3:6
- 31 Isaiah 42:1–4; Isaiah 62:1–2; Psalm 98:2–3; Isaiah 42:10–12; Isaiah 45:21–25
- 32 Isaiah 60:1–3; Isaiah 49:6; Acts 26:23; Acts 13:47–48; Isaiah 42:6–7
- 33 Isaiah 8:18; Luke 1:65–66; Luke 2:48
- 34 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:7–8; Isaiah 8:14–15; Matthew 21:44; 2 Corinthians 2:15–16
- 35 Deuteronomy 8:2; 1 Corinthians 11:19; Matthew 12:24–35; Luke 16:14–15; Acts 8:21–23
- 36 Psalm 92:14; Exodus 15:20; Genesis 30:13; Judges 4:4; Acts 2:18
- 37 1 Timothy 5:5; Psalm 23:6; Acts 14:23; Psalm 27:4; Acts 13:3
- 38 Luke 2:25; 2 Corinthians 9:15; Luke 1:68; Mark 15:43; Luke 24:21
- 39 Luke 2:4; Galatians 4:4–5; Matthew 3:15; Deuteronomy 12:32; Luke 2:21–24
- 40 Luke 2:52; Luke 1:80; Isaiah 11:1–5; John 1:14; 1 Samuel 2:26
- 41 Numbers 28:16; Leviticus 23:5; Exodus 23:14–17; Deuteronomy 16:1–8; Exodus 12:14
- 43 2 Chronicles 30:21–23; Exodus 12:15; 2 Chronicles 25:17
- 44 Isaiah 2:3; Psalm 122:1–4; Psalm 42:4
- 46 Isaiah 49:1–2; Luke 5:17; Isaiah 50:4; Acts 5:34; Matthew 27:63–64
- 47 Matthew 7:28; Luke 4:32; Psalm 119:99; John 7:15; Luke 4:22
- 48 Luke 2:49; Matthew 12:46; Luke 3:23; Luke 4:22
- 49 John 6:38; John 8:29; Malachi 3:1; Psalm 40:8; John 4:34
- 50 Luke 18:34; Mark 9:32; Luke 9:45
- 51 Luke 2:19; Daniel 7:28; Genesis 37:11; Mark 6:3; Ephesians 5:21
- 52 Luke 2:40; Proverbs 3:3–4; 1 Samuel 2:26; Romans 14:18; Luke 1:80
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- Luke 2:14: “good will toward men” or “peace to men of good will”?
The angels’ song differs by a single Greek letter. Most manuscripts, the Patriarchal Text and the Orthodox Doxology read eudokia: “glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Several of the oldest manuscripts read eudokias: “peace among men of his good pleasure,” which the Latin rendered “men of good will.” Both readings place the source of peace in God’s favour.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The production, again, of the Duodecad of the Æons, is indicated by the fact that the Lord was twelve years of age when He disputed with the teachers of the law, and by the election of the apostles, for of these there were twelve.
In Thy good pleasure lies our peace. The body by its own weight gravitates towards its own place.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
See, for instance, what saith the Virgin even to Himself: "Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee." For if this suspicion had been entertained, neither would He any longer have been accounted to be a Son of David, and this opinion not being held, many other evils besides would have arisen.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For we shall not tolerate the heretics who sever the Old Testament from the New, but shall believe Christ, who says concerning the temple, Wist ye not that I must be in My Father's house?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
For how are angels to cry "Glory to God in the highest" without being empowered by the Spirit?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)