Luke 2 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 It was the time when Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there should be a census of everyone in the Roman Empire.
1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2 This was the first census under governor Quirinius of Syria.
2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 So everybody went to their own city to be registered.
3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph was descended from King David, so he left Nazareth in Galilee to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, in Judea.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5 He went to register there, together with Mary, who was pledged in marriage to him and expecting a baby.
5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby.
6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him up in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because the inn had no rooms left.
7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Nearby some shepherds were spending the night out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks.
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They were scared out of their wits!
9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 “Don't be afraid!” the angel told them. “I'm here to bring you good news that will make the all the people really glad.
10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11 The Savior has been born to you today, here in David's city. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 You will recognize him by this sign: you will find the child wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”
13 Suddenly many heavenly beings appeared, praising God, saying,
13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”
15 After the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what's happened concerning these things the Lord has told us about.”
15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
16 They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.
17 After they'd seen for themselves, they spread the news of what had happened and what they had been told about this baby.
17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 All those who heard about it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary was careful to remember all the things that had happened and often thought about them.
19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back to watching their flocks, glorifying and thanking God for all that they'd heard and seen, for it was just as they'd been told.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.
21 After eight days, the time came for the baby to be circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he had even been conceived.
21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 When the time of their purification according to the law of Moses was finished, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 as the law of the Lord states, “Every firstborn son must be dedicated to the Lord.”
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
24 There they made a sacrifice, as God's law also states, of “a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
25 Living in Jerusalem at that time was a man called Simeon. Simeon did what was good and was very devout. He was waiting expectantly for the hope of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
26 The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would not die before he saw the Lord's Messiah.
26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 Following the Spirit's leading, he went to the Temple. When Jesus' parents brought in the little boy to be dedicated as required by the Law,
27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,
28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms, thanked God, and said,
28 then he received him into his arms and blessed God, and said,
29 “Lord and Master, now you can let your servant die in peace as you promised,
29 “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;
30 because I have seen for myself your salvation
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for everyone.
31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32 He is a light that will show you to the nations, the glory of your people Israel.”
32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 Jesus' father and mother were shocked at what Simeon said about him.
33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus' mother Mary, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and many to rise. He is a sign from God that many will reject,
34 Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.
35 revealing what they really think. For you it will feel like a sword piercing right through you.”
35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
36 Anna the prophetess also lived in Jerusalem. She was the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. She had been married for seven years,
36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,
37 and then she had been widowed. She was eighty-four years old. She spent her time at the Temple in worship, fasting and praying.
37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.
38 She came up to them right at that moment, and began praising God. She spoke about Jesus to all those who were looking forward to the time when God would set Jerusalem free.
38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 Once they had completed everything God's law required, they returned to their home town of Nazareth in Galilee.
39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 The child grew strong, and was very wise. God's blessing was with him.
40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
41 Jesus' parents traveled to Jerusalem every year for the Passover festival.
41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as they always did.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;
43 When the festival had finished and it was time to return home, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't realize this.
43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,
44 They assumed he was with all the others traveling home. A day passed before they started looking for him among their friends and relatives.
44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem to look for him there.
45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
46 It was three days before they found him in the Temple. He was sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 All who heard him speak were surprised by his understanding and his answers.
47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 His parents were totally confused when they saw what he was doing. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I—we've been worried sick! We've been looking everywhere for you!”
48 When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
49 “Why is it that you were looking for me?” Jesus replied. “Didn't you know I should be here in my Father's house?”
49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50 But they didn't understand what he meant.
50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51 Then he went back with them to Nazareth, and did what he was told. His mother kept a careful note of everything that happened.
51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 Jesus grew steadily wiser and stronger, favored both by God and by the people.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
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
Quirinius
The governor of Syria at the time of the first census decreed by Caesar Augustus.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:2
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)