The Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25)
2 UDB This first happened during the time that Quirinius was governing the province of Syria. BSB BSB: This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 UDB So everyone had to go to his family's hometown to be registered. BSB BSB: And everyone went to his own town to register.
6 UDB When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay in a place where visitors usually stayed. So they had to stay in a place where animals slept overnight. While they were there, the time came for Mary to give birth and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in wide strips of cloth and laid him down where the food was kept for the animals inside the barn. BSB BSB: While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.
The Shepherds and the Angels 9 UDB Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them. A bright light shone all around them, showing the Lord's glory. So they became very afraid. BSB BSB: Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 UDB But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid! I have come to tell you good news, which will benefit all people and will make you all very happy! BSB BSB: 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:
11 UDB Today, in the city of David, a baby has been born who will save you from your sins! He is Christ the Lord! BSB BSB: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
12 UDB This is how you will recognize him: In Bethlehem you will find a baby who has been wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a feeding place for animals." BSB BSB: And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 UDB Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared and joined the other angel. They all praised God, saying, BSB BSB: And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
14 UDB "May all the angels in the highest heaven praise God! And may there be peace on earth among people who are pleasing to God!" BSB BSB: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
15 UDB After the angels left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "We should go right now to Bethlehem to see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!" BSB BSB: 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.”
16 UDB So they went quickly and when they had found the place where Mary and Joseph were staying, they saw the baby lying in a feeding place for animals. BSB BSB: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 UDB After seeing him, they told everyone what had been told to them about this child. BSB BSB: After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
18 UDB All the people who heard what the shepherds said to them were amazed. BSB BSB: And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 UDB But Mary kept thinking about all the things she had heard and carefully remembered them. BSB BSB: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 UDB The shepherds returned to the fields where their sheep were. They kept talking about how great God is and praising him for all the things that they had heard and seen, because everything happened exactly as the angels had told them. BSB BSB: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Presented at the Temple 22 UDB When the required number of days for their purification had gone by, according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph traveled up to Jerusalem to dedicate their son to the Lord. BSB BSB: 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
23 UDB It had been written in the law of the Lord, "Every male offspring that is the first to be born will be set apart to be holy to the Lord." BSB BSB: (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
24 UDB The law of the Lord also said the parents of a newborn son must offer as a sacrifice: "two turtledoves or two young pigeons." BSB BSB: and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon 25 UDB At that time there was an old man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. He did what was pleasing to God and obeyed God's laws. He was eagerly waiting for God to send the Christ to give comfort to people of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was directing him. BSB BSB: 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.
26 UDB The Holy Spirit had previously revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the Christ, God's promised one, who would be both king and savior. BSB BSB: The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 UDB When Joseph and Mary brought their baby, Jesus, to the temple in order to perform the rituals that God had commanded in his laws, the Spirit led Simeon to enter the temple courtyard. BSB BSB: 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,
28 UDB Then he took Jesus up in his arms and praised God, saying, BSB BSB: Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 UDB "Lord, you have made me content and I can now die in peace according to your promise. BSB BSB: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
30 UDB I have seen the one whom you sent to save people, BSB BSB: For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 UDB the one you prepared in the midst of all the peoples. BSB BSB: which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 UDB He will be like a light that will reveal your truth to the Gentiles, and he will bring honor to your people Israel." BSB BSB: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
33 UDB Jesus's father and mother were very amazed at what Simeon said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus's mother, Mary, BSB BSB: The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
34 UDB "Note what I say: God has determined that because of this child, many people in Israel will turn away from God, and many others will turn to God. He will be like a sign to warn people, and many people will oppose him. BSB BSB: 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,
35 UDB As a result, the thoughts of many people will be made evident. A sword will also pierce your own soul." BSB BSB: so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
The Prophecy of Anna 36 UDB There was also in the temple courtyard a prophetess named Anna, who was very old. Her father Phanuel was a member of the tribe of Asher. She had been married for seven years and then her husband died. BSB BSB: 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,
37 UDB After that, she lived eighty-four more years as a widow. She was always serving in the temple area and worshiped God night and day. She often fasted and prayed. BSB BSB: and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
38 UDB At that very moment, Anna came up to them and began thanking God for the baby. Then she spoke about Jesus to many people who were expecting God to redeem Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:19–23)
40 UDB As the child grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was very pleased with him. BSB BSB: And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple 42 UDB So when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem for the festival as they always did. BSB BSB: And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
43 UDB When all the days for the festival had ended, his parents started to return home, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know he was still there. BSB BSB: When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.
44 UDB They assumed that he was with the other people who were traveling with them. After walking a whole day's journey, they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. BSB BSB: Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.
45 UDB When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. BSB BSB: When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.
46 UDB After three days they found him in the temple courtyard, sitting in the midst of the Jewish religious teachers. He was listening to them teach, and he was asking them questions. BSB BSB: Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 UDB All the people who heard what he said were amazed at how much he understood and how well he answered the questions that the teachers asked. BSB BSB: And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
48 UDB When his parents saw him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him, "My son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried as we have been searching for you!" BSB BSB: 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.”
49 UDB He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I needed to be involved in what my Father does?" BSB BSB: “Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
50 UDB But they did not understand the meaning of what he said to them. BSB BSB: But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.
52 UDB As the years passed, Jesus continued to become wiser and he grew taller. God and people continued to approve of him more and more. BSB BSB: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.