The Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:18–25)
2 UST This was the first time that the Romans recorded the names of everyone living in their empire. They did this during the time when Quirinius was the governor of the province of Syria. BSB BSB: This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 UST So everyone had to go to his family’ s hometown to register. BSB BSB: And everyone went to his own town to register.
6 UST 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 UST Suddenly they saw an angel from the Lord standing in front of them. A glorious light from the Lord shone all over them. 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 UST But the angel said to them,“Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, because I have come to tell you very good news! This news is for all people, and should make everyone rejoice! 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 UST They will rejoice because today, in Bethlehem, King David’ s hometown, the person was born who will save you{ from your sins}! He is the Messiah, the Lord! BSB BSB: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!
12 UST And here is a sign for you.{ If you go to Bethlehem,} you will find a baby there wrapped in strips of cloth and lying 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 UST Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven appeared with the other angel. They were all praising God by saying, BSB BSB: And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:
14 UST “In the highest heaven may all the angels praise God! And on the earth may all the people who please God be peaceful{ with God and each other}!” BSB BSB: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”
15 UST When the angels left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other,“We should go right now to Bethlehem and 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 UST 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 UST After they had seen him, they told everyone what the Lord had revealed to them about this baby. BSB BSB: After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him.
18 UST All the people who were listening thought that what the shepherds told them was amazing. BSB BSB: And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 UST But Mary carefully remembered all of these things and thought about them continually. BSB BSB: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 UST The shepherds returned{ to the fields where their sheep were}. They kept talking about how great God is and praising him for all of the things that they had heard and seen. Everything had been exactly as the angel had told them it would be. 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 UST Mary and Joseph waited the number of days that the law of Moses required for her to become ceremonially clean again after having a baby. Then they brought him to Jerusalem so that they could dedicate him to the Lord{ in the temple}. 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 UST They did this to obey the law of the Lord, which says,“You must set apart for the Lord every male offspring who is the first to be born.” BSB BSB: (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),
24 UST There they offered the sacrifice that the law of the Lord told the parents of a newborn son to offer,“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 UST At that time there was a 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 Messiah to encourage the people of Israel. 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 UST The Holy Spirit had previously revealed to him that before he died, the Lord would send the Messiah and he would get to see him. BSB BSB: The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 UST So the Holy Spirit led Simeon to go into the temple courtyard. He was there when Joseph and Mary brought in the baby Jesus so that they could perform the ceremony for him that God had commanded in the law. 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 UST { When Simeon saw Jesus,} he picked him up in his arms and thanked God, and then he said, BSB BSB: Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 UST “Lord, you have kept your promise to me, and now I am content for you to let me die. BSB BSB: “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
30 UST Because I have seen the one whom you have sent to save people, BSB BSB: For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 UST the one whom you have prepared for all people to see. BSB BSB: which You have prepared in the sight of all people,
32 UST He will be like a light that will reveal your truth to the other nations. He will show how glorious your plan is for Israel, your people.” BSB BSB: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
33 UST Jesus’ father and mother marveled at what Simeon said about him. BSB BSB: The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him.
34 UST Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Jesus’ mother, Mary,“Note well what I say: God has determined that, because of this child, many people in Israel will reject God and many will submit themselves to God. He will be a sign{ from God} that many people will oppose. 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 UST As for you,{ the cruel things that people will do to him will make you so sad that} it will feel as if a sword is piercing through your very soul.{ But this is necessary} so that he can reveal the secret thoughts of many people.” 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 UST A prophetess named Anna was also there{ in the temple courtyard}. She was very old. She was the daughter of Phanuel, who was from the tribe of Asher. As a young woman, she had been married for seven years{, and then her husband had 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 UST After that, she had lived as a widow for 84 more years. It seemed as if she was always in the temple, worshiping God by fasting and praying,{ at all times of the} night and day. 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 UST At that same time, Anna approached{ Joseph and Mary and the baby}. Anna began thanking God{ for the baby}. Afterwards, she kept speaking about Jesus to many other people who were also expecting{ God to send} the Messiah who would set the people of Israel free. 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 UST As the child grew up, he became strong and very wise, and God was present in his life. 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 UST So when Jesus was 12 years old, they all traveled to Jerusalem together when it was time for the{ Passover} festival. BSB BSB: And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
43 UST When the days for celebrating the festival ended, Jesus’ parents started to return home, but their son, Jesus, stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know{ that 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 UST They thought that he was with the other people who were traveling with them. But after walking for one day, 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 UST 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 UST Three days after{ Mary and Joseph had left Jerusalem}, they found Jesus at the temple. He was sitting among 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 UST 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 UST When his parents saw him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him,“My son, you should not have done this to us. Listen to me! 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 UST He said to them,“I am surprised that you needed to search for me. I thought you would know that I needed to be at my Father’ s house{, learning about him}.” 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 UST 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 UST 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.