Luke · Majority Standard Bible
Luke 2 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.
1 Y ACONTECIÓ en aquellos días que salió edicto de parte de Augusto César, que toda la tierra fuese empadronada.
2 This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
2 Este empadronamiento primero fué hecho siendo Cirenio gobernador de la Siria.
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
3 E iban todos para ser empadronados, cada uno á su ciudad.
4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line 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 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.
5 Para ser empadronado con María su mujer, desposada con él, la cual estaba en cinta.
6 While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
6 Y aconteció que estando ellos allí, se cumplieron los días en que ella había de parir.
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths 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 residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
8 Y había pastores en la misma tierra, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre su ganado.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
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 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for 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 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He 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 will be the sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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 appeared with the angel a great 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 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, 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 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
16 Y vinieron apriesa, y hallaron á María, y á José, y al niño acostado en el pesebre.
17 After they had seen the Child, they spread widely the message they had received about Him.
17 Y viéndolo, hicieron notorio lo que les había sido dicho del niño.
18 And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
18 Y todos los que oyeron, se maravillaron de lo que los pastores les decían.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
19 Mas María guardaba todas estas cosas, confiriéndolas en su corazón.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told 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 When the eight days before His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He was conceived.
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 time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents 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 firstborn male shall be consecrated 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 the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves 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 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for 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 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen 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 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under 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 Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
28 Entonces él le tomó en sus brazos, y bendijo á Dios, y dijo:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
29 Ahora despides, Señor, á tu siervo, conforme á tu palabra, en paz;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
30 Porque han visto mis ojos tu salvación,
31 which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
31 La cual has aparejado en presencia de todos los pueblos;
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
32 Luz para ser revelada á los Gentiles, y la gloria de tu pueblo Israel.
33 And Joseph and the Child’s mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
33 Y José y su madre estaban maravillados de las cosas que se decían de él.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be 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 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
35 Y una espada traspasará tu alma de ti misma, para que sean manifestados los pensamientos de muchos corazones.
36 There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,
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 then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
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 Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting 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 When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of 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 became strong in spirit. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
40 Y el niño crecía, y fortalecíase, y se henchía de sabiduría; y la gracia de Dios era sobre él.
41 Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for 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, 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 When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but Joseph and His mother were unaware He had stayed.
43 Y acabados los días, volviendo ellos, se quedó el niño Jesús en Jerusalem, sin saberlo José y su madre.
44 Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
44 Y pensando que estaba en la compañía, anduvieron camino de un día; y le buscaban entre los parientes y entre los conocidos:
45 When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
45 Mas como no le hallasen, volvieron á Jerusalem buscándole.
46 Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to 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 astounded at His understanding and His answers.
47 Y todos los que le oían, se pasmaban de su entendimiento y de sus respuestas.
48 When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”
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 “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
49 Entonces él les dice: ¿Qué hay? ¿por qué me buscabais? ¿No sabíais que en los negocios de mi Padre me conviene estar?
50 But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
50 Mas ellos no entendieron las palabras que les habló.
51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up 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 grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
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
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)