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Luke 2

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The Birth of Jesus 1–7

1
Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. ​
2
This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ​
3
And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.
4
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; ​
5
to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.
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And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.
7
And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ​

The Shepherds and the Angels 8–20

8
And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. ​
9
And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10
And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:
11
for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. ​
12
And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.
13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14
Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. ​
15
And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16
And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
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And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
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And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.
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But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. ​
20
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.

Jesus Presented at the Temple 21–40

21
And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ​
22
And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord ​
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(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),
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and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. ​
25
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ​
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And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
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And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,
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then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,
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Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace; ​
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For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
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Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
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A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. ​
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And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him;
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and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; ​
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yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. ​
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And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ​
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and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.
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And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
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And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
40
And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. ​

The Boy Jesus in the Temple 41–52

41
And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. ​
42
And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; ​
43
and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not;
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but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:
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and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.
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And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: ​
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and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48
And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.
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And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father’s house? ​
50
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
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And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ​
52
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Luke 2

Verse 1

a decree from Caesar Augustus — Dogma is a decree or ordinance. 'All the world' is oikoumene, the inhabited earth, here the lands under Rome. The order that moved Joseph and Mary (vv.3–5) brought the birth to Bethlehem, where Mic 5:2 said the ruler of Israel would 'come forth'. Luke dates John's ministry by another emperor (Luke 3:1).

Verse 2

first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria — Apographe is a registration or enrolment; hegemoneuo means to act as ruler. 'First' is commonly read as marking this enrolment as the earlier of two: Luke himself later mentions 'the days of the taxing' and Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:37). Cyrenius is the Latin Quirinius.

Verse 4

the city of David, which is called Bethlehem — Joseph 'went up' (anabaino) from Nazareth because he was 'of the house and lineage' (patria, paternal family) of David. This is the place of Mic 5:2, 'Bethlehem Ephratah', and the objection in John 7:42, 'out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?'

Verse 7

her firstborn son — Prototokos, as in Matt 1:25. The firstborn belonged to the LORD (Ex 13:2; see v.23). 'Swaddling clothes' (sparganoo) are strips of cloth wound round an infant; 'manger' (phatne) is a feeding trough; 'inn' (katalyma) is a lodging-place, the word rendered 'guestchamber' in Luke 22:11.

Verse 8

shepherds abiding in the field — Agrauleo, to camp out, occurs only here in the KJV. The first hearers of the news were keepers of flocks, as David had been, taken 'from the sheepfolds' to shepherd Jacob (Ps 78:70–71), in the town where he was born. The 'watch' (phylake) was the division of the night.

Verse 11

a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord — The verse gives three titles: soter, deliverer; Christos, the Anointed (Messiah); kyrios, Lord. 'Unto you is born' echoes Isa 9:6, 'unto us a child is born'; the name of the Saviour is explained in Matt 1:21, and Peter later joins 'Lord and Christ' (Acts 2:36).

Verse 14

good will toward men — Eudokia is good pleasure, the favour in which God takes delight. The peace is joined to glory 'in the highest' (hypsistos); the disciples on the Mount of Olives sing the same pair reversed, 'peace in heaven, and glory in the highest' (Luke 19:38). Peace made 'through the blood of his cross' is the sense of Col 1:20.

Verse 19

pondered them in her heart — Symballo means literally to throw together: she considered the shepherds' report together with all that had been told her. 'Kept' is syntereo, to keep closely. The same trait ends the chapter (v.51), with a different verb, diatereo; compare Gen 37:11, where Jacob 'observed the saying'.

Verse 21

his name was called JESUS — Circumcision on the eighth day is the law of Gen 17:12 and Lev 12:3. The name, Greek for Hebrew Jehoshua, was given before conception (Luke 1:31); its meaning is stated in Matt 1:21, 'he shall save his people from their sins'. He was 'made under the law' (Gal 4:4).

Verse 22

the days of her purification — By Lev 12:2–4 a mother was unclean seven days, then continued thirty-three more 'in the blood of her purifying', touching nothing hallowed. Katharismos is cleansing. 'To present him to the Lord' (paristemi) answers the claim of Ex 13:2 on every firstborn, cited in v.23.

Verse 24

A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons — Lev 12:8 permits this offering when the mother is 'not able to bring a lamb': one bird for the burnt offering, one for the sin offering. Joseph and Mary bring the offering of the poor, as 2 Cor 8:9 says of Christ, 'though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor'.

Verse 25

the consolation of Israel — Paraklesis is comfort, encouragement; it is the hope of Isa 40:1, 'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people'. Simeon is 'just' (dikaios) and 'devout' (eulabes, careful, reverent), 'waiting' (prosdechomai) as those in v.38 who 'looked for redemption'. The Holy Ghost was 'upon' him, and revealed the promise of v.26.

Verse 29

lettest thou thy servant depart — Apolyo is to release or dismiss; doulos is a bondservant, and despotes the absolute master he addresses. Departure 'in peace' is the language of Gen 15:15, 'thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace'. It is the end of the waiting promised in v.26, since he has now seen the Lord's Christ.

Verse 32

A light to lighten the Gentiles — These words are drawn from Isa 49:6, where the Servant is also to 'raise up the tribes of Jacob' (cf. Isa 42:6). The Greek apokalypsis means a revealing, so the light is a revelation to the Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas apply the words to their mission: 'I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles' (Acts 13:47). Israel's 'glory' is the other half.

Verse 34

the fall and rising again of many — Ptosis and anastasis (the word used of resurrection). The child is a 'stone of stumbling' to Israel in Isa 8:14–15, and Peter applies it to Christ: a stone of stumbling 'to them which stumble at the word', yet precious to those who believe (1 Pet 2:7–8). 'Spoken against' is antilego.

Verse 35

a sword shall pierce through thy own soul — Rhomphaia is a long, broad sword; it is said to Mary alone, and 'thy own soul' (psyche) marks her share in the rejection. Scripture shows her standing 'by the cross of Jesus' (John 19:25). The cross also lays bare 'the thoughts' (dialogismos, reasonings) of many hearts.

Verse 36

Anna, a prophetess — Prophetesses named in Scripture include Miriam (Ex 15:20) and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14); the gift is promised to 'handmaidens' in Acts 2:18. 'Aser' is the tribe of Asher; 'Phanuel' is the Hebrew Penuel. Her seven years of marriage and her great age are set beside v.37.

Verse 40

filled with wisdom — The clause 'the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit' is word for word that of John in Luke 1:80, and the child Samuel likewise 'grew on' (1 Sam 2:26). The 'wisdom' (sophia) and 'grace of God' are those of the Branch of Isa 11:1–2, on whom rests 'the spirit of wisdom and understanding'.

Verse 41

every year at the feast of the passover — The law required all males to appear before the LORD three times a year (Deut 16:16), and the passover opened the feast of unleavened bread. Pascha is the Passover. Luke notes that his parents went 'every year', as Elkanah 'went up out of his city yearly' to Shiloh (1 Sam 1:3).

Verse 42

when he was twelve years old — This is the one event recorded from his boyhood between v.40 and his baptism at about thirty (Luke 3:23). 'Went up' (anabaino) is the pilgrim's verb, as in Ps 122:4, where 'the tribes go up'. The 'custom' (ethos) of the feast is the yearly practice of v.41.

Verse 46

in the midst of the doctors — Didaskalos is simply 'teacher'. 'Temple' is hieron, the whole sacred precinct. He is 'hearing them, and asking them questions' (eperotao), sitting as a learner, yet v.47 says all were 'astonished' at his understanding. 'After three days' counts from the departure in vv.43–45.

Verse 49

my Father's business — Literally, the Greek reads in the things of my Father. 'Must' is dei, divine necessity. Mary had said 'thy father' (v.48); he answers 'my Father'. These are his first recorded words, and the same obedience is stated later: 'My meat is to do the will of him that sent me' (John 4:34). 'Wist' is the old past of eido, to know.

Verse 51

was subject unto them — Hypotasso, to put oneself under, the word used of children in the household duty of Eph 6:1–2, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord'. He 'went down' (katabaino) from Jerusalem to Nazareth. The mother 'kept' (diatereo, to watch thoroughly) what she had heard, as in v.19.

Verse 52

increased in wisdom and stature — Prokopto is to advance, and helikia means stature or age. The verse is the closing form of v.40, and follows the pattern of Samuel, who 'was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men' (1 Sam 2:26). Prov 3:4 promises 'favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man'.