\v 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was a descendant from the family of David.
\v 7 She gave birth to a son, her firstborn child, and she wrapped him in long strips of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
\v 15 It came about that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
\v 16 They hurried there and found Mary and Joseph, and saw the baby lying in the feeding trough.
\v 18 All who heard it were amazed at what was spoken to them by the shepherds.
\v 19 But Mary kept thinking about all the things she had heard, treasuring them in her heart.
\v 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything that they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to them.
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\v 21 When it was the eighth day and it was time to circumcise the baby, they named him Jesus, the name he had been given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
\v 22 When the required number of days for their purification had passed, according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought him up to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
\v 24 They also came to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
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\v 25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the comforter of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
\v 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
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\v 27 One day he came into the temple, led by the Holy Spirit. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, to do for him what the custom of the law required,
\v 28 then Simeon received him into his arms, and praised God and said,
\v 33 The child's father and mother were amazed at the things which were spoken concerning him.
\v 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Listen carefully! This child is destined for the falling and rising of many people in Israel and for a sign which is spoken against.
\v 36 A prophetess named Anna was also there. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,
\v 37 and then was a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple and was continually worshiping God with fasting and prayers, night and day.
\v 38 At that very moment, she came up to them and began thanking God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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\v 39 When they had finished everything they were required to do according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
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\v 40 The child grew and became strong, increasing in wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
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\v 41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.
\v 42 When he was twelve years old, they again went up at the customary time for the feast.
\v 43 After they had stayed the full number of days for the feast, they began to return home. But the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it.
\v 44 They assumed that he was with the group that was traveling with them, so they traveled a day's journey. Then they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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\v 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.
\v 46 It came about that after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
\v 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
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\v 48 When they saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Listen, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
\v 49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
\v 50 But they did not understand what he meant by those words.
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\v 51 Then he went back home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
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\v 52 But Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and stature, and increased in favor with God and people.
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