Online Bible

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2

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Luke 2 NWT - New World TranslationLuke 2 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 2 of Luke—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ Now in those days a decree1 went forth from Caesar[a] Au·gusʹtus for all the inhabited earth[b] to be registered;
  2. (this first registration took place when Qui·rinʹi·us was governor of Syria;)
  3. and all people went traveling to be registered,2 each one to his own city.
  4. Of course, Joseph also went up from Galʹi·lee, out of the city of Nazʹa·reth, into Ju·deʹa, to David’s city, which is called Bethʹle·hem,3 because of his being a member of the house and family of David,4
  5. to get registered with Mary,5 who had been given him in marriage as promised,6 at present heavy with child.7
  6. While they were there, the days came to the full for her to give birth.
  7. And she gave birth to her son, the firstborn,8 and she bound him with cloth bands and laid him in a manger,9 because there was no place for them in the lodging room.[c]
  8. ¶ There were also in that same country shepherds living out of doors[d] and keeping watches in the night over their flocks.
  9. And suddenly Jehovah’s[e] angel10 stood by them, and Jehovah’s[f] glory11 gleamed around them, and they became very fearful.
  10. But the angel said to them: “Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to YOU good news of a great joy that all the people will have,12
  11. because there was born to YOU today a Savior,13 who is[g] Christ [the] Lord,[h]14 in David’s city.15
  12. And this is a sign for YOU: YOU will find an infant bound in cloth bands and lying in a manger.”
  13. And suddenly there came to be with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army,[i]16 praising God17 and saying:
  14. “Glory in the heights18 above to God, and upon earth peace19 among men of goodwill.”[j]20
  15. ¶ So when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another: “Let us by all means go clear to Bethʹle·hem and see this thing that has taken place, which Jehovah[k]21 has made known to us.”
  16. And they went with haste and found Mary as well as Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
  17. When they saw it, they made known the saying that had been spoken to them concerning this young child.
  18. And all that heard marveled over the things told them by the shepherds,
  19. but Mary began to preserve all these sayings, drawing conclusions in her heart.22
  20. Then the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all the things they heard and saw, just as these had been told them.
  21. ¶ Now when eight days23 came to the full for circumcising24 him, his name was also called Jesus,[l]25 the name called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.26
  22. ¶ Also, when the days for purifying27 them according to the law of Moses came to the full, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to Jehovah,[m]
  23. just as it is written in Jehovah’s[n] law: “Every male opening a womb must be called holy to Jehovah,”[o]28
  24. and to offer sacrifice according to what is said in the law of Jehovah:[p] “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”29
  25. ¶ And, look! there was a man in Jerusalem named Simʹe·on, and this man was righteous and reverent, waiting for Israel’s consolation,30 and holy spirit was upon him.
  26. Furthermore, it had been divinely revealed to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ31 of Jehovah.[q]
  27. Under the power of the spirit32 he now came into the temple; and as the parents brought the young child Jesus in to do for it according to the customary practice of the law,33
  28. he himself received it into his arms and blessed God and said:
  29. “Now, Sovereign Lord,[r] you are letting your slave go free in peace34 according to your declaration;
  30. because my eyes have seen your means of saving35
  31. that you have made ready in the sight of all the peoples,36
  32. a light37 for removing the veil38 from the nations[s]39 and a glory of your people Israel.”
  33. And its father and mother continued wondering at the things being spoken about it.
  34. Also, Simʹe·on blessed them, but said to Mary its mother: “Look! This one is laid for the fall40 and the rising again[t] of many in Israel41 and for a sign to be talked against42
  35. (yes, a long sword will be run through the soul[u] of you yourself),43 in order that the reasonings of many hearts may be uncovered.”44
  36. ¶ Now there was Anna a prophetess, Phanʹu·el’s daughter, of Ashʹer’s tribe (this woman was well along in years, and had lived with a husband for seven years from her virginity,
  37. and she was a widow45 now eighty-four years old), who was never missing from the temple, rendering sacred service[v] night and day46 with fastings and supplications.
  38. And in that very hour she came near and began returning thanks to God[w] and speaking about [the child][x] to all those waiting for Jerusalem’s deliverance.47
  39. ¶ So when they had carried out all the things according to the law48 of Jehovah,[y] they went back into Galʹi·lee to their own city Nazʹa·reth.49
  40. And the young child continued growing and getting strong,50 being filled with wisdom, and God’s favor51 continued upon him.
  41. ¶ Now his parents were accustomed to go from year to year to Jerusalem52 for the festival of the passover.
  42. And when he became twelve years old, they went up according to the custom53 of the festival
  43. and completed the days. But when they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not notice it.
  44. Assuming that he was in the company traveling together, they covered a day’s distance54 and then began to hunt him up among the relatives and acquaintances.
  45. But, not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, making a diligent search for him.
  46. Well, after three days they found him in the temple,55 sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and questioning them.
  47. But all those listening to him were in constant amazement at his understanding and his answers.56
  48. Now when they saw him they were astounded, and his mother said to him: “Child, why did you treat us this way? Here your father and I in mental distress have been looking for you.”
  49. But he said to them: “Why did YOU have to go looking for me? Did YOU not know that I must be in the [house] of my Father?”57
  50. However, they did not grasp the saying that he spoke to them.58
  51. ¶ And he went down with them and came to Nazʹa·reth, and he continued subject59 to them. Also, his mother carefully kept all these sayings[z] in her heart.60
  52. And Jesus went on progressing in wisdom61 and in physical growth and in favor with God and men.62

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ Or, “Emperor.” Lat., Caeʹsa·re.
  2. ^ Lit., “the inhabited.” Gr., ten oi·kou·meʹnen, fem. sing., referring to the earth.
  3. ^ Or, “guest room.” See Mr 14:14.
  4. ^ Or, “dwelling in the fields.”
  5. ^ See App 1D.
  6. ^ See App 1D.
  7. ^ Or, “is to be.”
  8. ^ “Christ [the] Lord.” Gr., Khri·stosʹ kyʹri·os. This expression might be a Gr. rendering of the Heb. ma·shiʹach Yeho·wahʹ, “Jehovah’s Christ,” as in J5-8,10. See 2:26.
  9. ^ Or, “host.” Lat., mi·liʹti·ae.
  10. ^ Or, “men whom he approves.” Gr., an·throʹpois eu·do·kiʹas.
  11. ^ See App 1D.
  12. ^ See Mt 1:21 ftn.
  13. ^ See App 1D.
  14. ^ See App 1D.
  15. ^ See App 1D.
  16. ^ See App 1D.
  17. ^ See App 1D.
  18. ^ “Sovereign Lord,” אAB; Gr., deʹspo·ta; J7,8,10,13,16,17,22(Heb.), ʼAdho·naiʹ; J9,18, “Jehovah.”
  19. ^ Or, “a light of the nations for a revelation.”
  20. ^ Or, “the resurrection.” Gr., a·naʹsta·sin. See Mt 22:23 ftn.
  21. ^ Or, “life.” Gr., psy·khenʹ. See App 4A.
  22. ^ Or, “rendering worship.” Gr., la·treuʹou·sa; J17(Heb.), ʽa·vedhahʹ. See Ex 3:12 ftn.
  23. ^ “God,” אB; AVgSyp,s, “the Lord”; J5,7-17, “Jehovah.”
  24. ^ Lit., “about it.”
  25. ^ See App 1D.
  26. ^ Or, “things.” Gr., rheʹma·ta. See 1:37 ftn.

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Da 11:20
  2. ^ Ro 13:1
  3. ^ 1Sa 16:1; Mc 5:2; Mt 2:6
  4. ^ Mt 1:16
  5. ^ Lu 1:27
  6. ^ Mt 1:25; Lu 1:27
  7. ^ Mt 1:18
  8. ^ Mt 1:25
  9. ^ Is 53:2
  10. ^ Heb 1:14
  11. ^ Le 9:6
  12. ^ Ge 12:3; Ac 13:48
  13. ^ Is 9:6; 19:20
  14. ^ Ac 2:36; Pp 2:11
  15. ^ 1Sa 20:6
  16. ^ Ps 103:21
  17. ^ Ge 28:12; Da 7:10; Heb 1:14; Re 5:11
  18. ^ Ps 148:1; Mr 11:10
  19. ^ Is 57:19; Col 1:20
  20. ^ Ps 30:5; Is 61:2; Lu 19:38
  21. ^ Ps 111:2
  22. ^ Ge 37:11; Lu 1:66; 2:51
  23. ^ Ge 17:12; Le 12:3; Ga 4:4
  24. ^ Ge 17:10
  25. ^ Mt 1:21
  26. ^ Lu 1:31
  27. ^ Le 12:2
  28. ^ Ex 13:2; 22:29; 34:19; Nu 3:13; 8:17
  29. ^ Le 1:14; 5:7; 12:8
  30. ^ Ps 119:166; Is 40:1; 49:13
  31. ^ Lu 9:20
  32. ^ Ac 8:29
  33. ^ Le 12:6
  34. ^ Ge 46:30; Is 57:2
  35. ^ Is 52:10; Lu 3:6; Ac 4:12
  36. ^ Is 40:5; 42:1
  37. ^ Is 9:2; 60:1; Mt 4:16
  38. ^ Is 25:7
  39. ^ Is 11:10; 42:6; 49:6; Ac 13:47; 26:23
  40. ^ Is 53:10
  41. ^ Is 8:14; Ho 14:9; 1Co 1:23; 1Pe 2:8
  42. ^ Ac 28:22; 1Pe 2:12
  43. ^ Jn 19:25
  44. ^ 1Co 11:19
  45. ^ 1Ti 5:5
  46. ^ Ac 26:7
  47. ^ Is 52:9; La 3:26; Mr 15:43; Lu 2:25
  48. ^ Le 12:6
  49. ^ Mt 2:23; Lu 1:26
  50. ^ Lu 1:80; 2:52
  51. ^ Is 11:2
  52. ^ Ex 23:14; De 16:16
  53. ^ Ex 34:23
  54. ^ 1Ki 19:4
  55. ^ Mt 26:55
  56. ^ Ps 119:99; Mt 7:28; Mr 1:22; Jn 7:15
  57. ^ Ps 26:8; 27:4; Pr 20:11; Jn 2:16
  58. ^ Lu 9:45; 18:34
  59. ^ Ex 20:12; De 5:16; Eph 6:1; Col 3:20
  60. ^ Ge 37:11; Da 7:28; Lu 2:19
  61. ^ Pr 2:2, 5; Is 11:2
  62. ^ Pr 3:4

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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