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Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2

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Luke 2 NASB - New American Standard BibleLuke 2 NASB - New American Standard Bible

Chapter 2 of Luke—New American Standard Bible (NASB)

  1. ¶ Now in those days a decree went out from 1Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of 2all [a]the inhabited earth.
  2. [b]This was the first census taken while [c]Quirinius was governor of 3Syria.
  3. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
  4. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because 4he was of the house and family of David,
  5. in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
  6. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
  7. And she 5gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a [d]manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  8. ¶ In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
  9. And 6an angel of the Lord suddenly 7stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
  10. But the angel said to them, “8Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
  11. for today in the city of David there has been born for you a 9Savior, who is [e]10Christ 11the Lord.
  12. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a [f]manger.”
  13. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
  14. ¶ “13Glory to God in the highest,
    And on earth peace among men [g]14with whom He is pleased.”
  15. ¶ When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
  16. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the [h]manger.
  17. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
  18. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
  19. But Mary 15treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
  20. The shepherds went back, 16glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.
  21. ¶ And when 17eight days had passed, [i]before His circumcision, 18His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
  22. 19And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
  23. (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “20EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD”),
  24. and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “21A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS.”
  25. ¶ And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was 22righteous and devout, 23looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
  26. And 24it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not 25see death before he had seen the Lord’s [j]Christ.
  27. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [k]26to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,
  28. then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
  29. ¶ “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
    27According to Your word;
  30. For my eyes have 28seen Your salvation,
  31. Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
  32. 29A LIGHT [l]OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,
    And the glory of Your people Israel.”
  33. ¶ And His father and 30mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.
  34. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary 31His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for 32the fall and [m]rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—
  35. and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
  36. ¶ And there was a 33prophetess, [n]Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of 34the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in [o]years 35and had lived with her husband seven years after her [p]marriage,
  37. and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with 36fastings and prayers.
  38. At that very [q]moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were 37looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
  39. ¶ When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to 38their own city of Nazareth.
  40. 39The Child continued to grow and become strong, [r]increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
  41. ¶ Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at 40the Feast of the Passover.
  42. And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;
  43. and as they were returning, after spending the 41full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,
  44. but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
  45. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.
  46. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
  47. And all who heard Him 42were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
  48. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and 43His mother said to Him, “[s]Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, 44Your father and I [t]have been anxiously looking for You.”
  49. And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that 45I had to be in My Father’s [u]house?”
  50. But 46they did not understand the statement which He [v]had made to them.
  51. And He went down with them and came to 47Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and 48His mother 49treasured all these [w]things in her heart.
  52. ¶ And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and [x]stature, and in 50favor with God and men.

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ I.e. the Roman empire
  2. ^ Or This took place as a first census
  3. ^ Gr Kyrenios
  4. ^ Or feeding trough
  5. ^ I.e. Messiah
  6. ^ Or feeding trough
  7. ^ Lit of good pleasure; or of good will
  8. ^ Or feeding trough
  9. ^ Lit so as to circumcise Him
  10. ^ I.e. Messiah
  11. ^ Lit to do for Him according to
  12. ^ Or for
  13. ^ Or resurrection
  14. ^ Or Hannah
  15. ^ Lit days
  16. ^ Lit virginity
  17. ^ Lit hour
  18. ^ Lit becoming full of
  19. ^ Or Child
  20. ^ Lit are looking
  21. ^ Or affairs; lit in the things of My Father
  22. ^ Lit had spoken
  23. ^ Lit words
  24. ^ Or age

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Mt 22:17; Lu 3:1
  2. ^ Mt 24:14
  3. ^ Mt 4:24
  4. ^ Lu 1:27
  5. ^ Mt 1:25
  6. ^ Lu 1:11; Ac 5:19
  7. ^ Lu 24:4; Ac 12:7
  8. ^ Mt 14:27
  9. ^ Mt 1:21; Jn 4:42; Ac 5:31
  10. ^ Mt 1:16; 16:16, 20; Jn 11:27
  11. ^ Lu 1:43; Ac 2:36; 10:36
  12. ^ 1Sa 2:34; 2Ki 19:29; 20:8f; Is 7:11, 14
  13. ^ Mt 21:9; Lu 19:38
  14. ^ Lu 3:22; Eph 1:9; Pp 2:13
  15. ^ Lu 2:51
  16. ^ Mt 9:8
  17. ^ Ge 17:12; Le 12:3; Lu 1:59
  18. ^ Mt 1:21, 25; Lu 1:31
  19. ^ Le 12:6-8
  20. ^ Ex 13:2, 12; Nu 3:13; 8:17
  21. ^ Le 5:11; 12:8
  22. ^ Lu 1:6
  23. ^ Mr 15:43; Lu 2:38; 23:51
  24. ^ Mt 2:12
  25. ^ Ps 89:48; Jn 8:51; Heb 11:5
  26. ^ Lu 2:22
  27. ^ Lu 2:26
  28. ^ Ps 119:166, 174; Is 52:10; Lu 3:6
  29. ^ Is 9:2; 42:6; 49:6, 9; 51:4; 60:1-3; Mt 4:16; Ac 13:47; 26:23
  30. ^ Mt 12:46
  31. ^ Mt 12:46
  32. ^ Mt 21:44; 1Co 1:23; 2Co 2:16; 1Pe 2:8
  33. ^ Lu 2:38; Ac 21:9
  34. ^ Jos 19:24
  35. ^ 1Ti 5:9
  36. ^ Lu 5:33; Ac 13:3; 14:23; 1Ti 5:5
  37. ^ Lu 1:68; 2:25
  38. ^ Mt 2:23; Lu 1:26; 2:51; 4:16
  39. ^ Lu 1:80; 2:52
  40. ^ Ex 12:11; 23:15; De 16:1-6
  41. ^ Ex 12:15
  42. ^ Mt 7:28; 13:54; 22:33; Mr 1:22; 6:2; 11:18; Lu 4:32; Jn 7:15
  43. ^ Mt 12:46
  44. ^ Lu 2:49; 3:23; 4:22
  45. ^ Jn 4:34; 5:36
  46. ^ Mr 9:32; Lu 9:45; 18:34
  47. ^ Lu 2:39
  48. ^ Mt 12:46
  49. ^ Lu 2:19
  50. ^ Lu 2:40

Read Luke Chapter 2 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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