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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Luke 2 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/luke/2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/luke/2-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Luke 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../luke/1.htm" title="Luke 1">◄</a> Luke 2 <a href="../luke/3.htm" title="Luke 3">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Birth of Jesus</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 1:18-25">Matthew 1.18-25</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_1"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.1" class="v42_2_1">1</span>About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v42_2_2"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.2" class="v42_2_2">2</span>These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.2!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_3"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.3" class="v42_2_3">3</span>Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. </span><span class="v42_2_4"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.4" class="v42_2_4">4</span>So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David's hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David's family.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_5"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.5" class="v42_2_5">5</span>Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, </span><span class="v42_2_6"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.6" class="v42_2_6">6</span>and while they were there, </span><span class="v42_2_7"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.7" class="v42_2_7">7</span>she gave birth to her first-born<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.7!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> son. She dressed him in baby clothes<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.7!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Shepherds</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_8"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.8" class="v42_2_8">8</span>That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. </span><span class="v42_2_9"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.9" class="v42_2_9">9</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.9!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. </span><span class="v42_2_10"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.10" class="v42_2_10">10</span>But the angel said, “Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. </span><span class="v42_2_11"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.11" class="v42_2_11">11</span>This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. </span><span class="v42_2_12"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.12" class="v42_2_12">12</span>You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_13"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.13" class="v42_2_13">13</span>Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said:</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_14"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.14" class="v42_2_14">14</span>“Praise God in heaven!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_14">Peace on earth to everyone</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_14">who pleases God.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_15"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.15" class="v42_2_15">15</span>After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” </span><span class="v42_2_16"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.16" class="v42_2_16">16</span>They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_17"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.17" class="v42_2_17">17</span>When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. </span><span class="v42_2_18"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.18" class="v42_2_18">18</span>Everyone listened and was surprised. </span><span class="v42_2_19"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.19" class="v42_2_19">19</span>But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_20"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.20" class="v42_2_20">20</span>As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_21"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.21" class="v42_2_21">21</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.21!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Eight days later Jesus' parents did for him what the Law of Moses commands.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.21!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> And they named him Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary when he promised she would have a baby.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Simeon Praises the Lord</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_22"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.22" class="v42_2_22">22</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.22!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.22!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_22">They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, </span><span class="v42_2_23"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.23" class="v42_2_23">23</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.23!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.23!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> baby boy belongs to the Lord.” </span><span class="v42_2_24"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.24" class="v42_2_24">24</span>The Law of the Lord also says parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_25"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.25" class="v42_2_25">25</span>At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him </span><span class="v42_2_26"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.26" class="v42_2_26">26</span>and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_27"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.27" class="v42_2_27">27</span>When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. </span><span class="v42_2_28"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.28" class="v42_2_28">28</span>Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_29"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.29" class="v42_2_29">29</span>“Lord, I am your servant,</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_29">and now I can die in peace,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_29">because you have kept</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_29">your promise to me.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_30"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.30" class="v42_2_30">30</span>With my own eyes I have seen</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_30">what you have done</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_30">to save your people,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_31"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.31" class="v42_2_31">31</span>and foreign nations</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_31">will also see this.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_32"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.32" class="v42_2_32">32</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.32!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Your mighty power is a light</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_32">for all nations,</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v42_2_32">and it will bring honor</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v42_2_32">to your people Israel.”</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_33"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.33" class="v42_2_33">33</span>Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said. </span><span class="v42_2_34"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.34" class="v42_2_34">34</span>Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, </span><span class="v42_2_35"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.35" class="v42_2_35">35</span>and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”</span></p><h3 class="s1">Anna Speaks about the Child Jesus</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_36"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.36" class="v42_2_36">36</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.36!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. </span><span class="v42_2_37"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.37" class="v42_2_37">37</span>And now she was 84 years old.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.37!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.37!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_38"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.38" class="v42_2_38">38</span>At this time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Return to Nazareth</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_39"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.39" class="v42_2_39">39</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.39!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> After Joseph and Mary had done everything that the Law of the Lord commands, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. </span><span class="v42_2_40"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.40" class="v42_2_40">40</span>The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Boy Jesus in the Temple</h3><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_41"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.41" class="v42_2_41">41</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.41!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. </span><span class="v42_2_42"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.42" class="v42_2_42">42</span>And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. </span><span class="v42_2_43"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.43" class="v42_2_43">43</span>After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. </span><span class="v42_2_44"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.44" class="v42_2_44">44</span>They thought he was traveling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him. </span><span class="v42_2_45"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.45" class="v42_2_45">45</span>When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_46"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.46" class="v42_2_46">46</span>Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. </span><span class="v42_2_47"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.47" class="v42_2_47">47</span>Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew and at the answers he gave.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_48"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.48" class="v42_2_48">48</span>When his parents found him, they were amazed. His mother said, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been very worried, and we have been searching for you!”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_49"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.49" class="v42_2_49">49</span>Jesus answered, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house?”<a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.49!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v42_2_50"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.50" class="v42_2_50">50</span>But they did not understand what he meant.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_51"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.51" class="v42_2_51">51</span>Jesus went back to Nazareth with his parents and obeyed them. His mother kept on thinking about all that had happened.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v42_2_52"><span class="reftext" id="Luke.2.52" class="v42_2_52">52</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Luke.2.52!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Jesus became wise, and he grew strong. God was pleased with him and so were the people.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">names … listed in record books: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This was done so that everyone could be made to pay taxes to the Emperor.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.2 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Quirinius was governor of Syria: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">It is known that Quirinius made a record of the people in <char style="sc">a.d.</char> 6 or 7. But the exact date of the record taking that Luke mentions is not known.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">first-born: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish people said that the first-born son in each of their families belonged to the Lord.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.7 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">dressed him in baby clothes: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Greek text has “wrapped him in wide strips of cloth,” which was how young babies were dressed.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.21 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">what the Law of Moses commands: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 1.59.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.22 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">after her baby is born: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">After a Jewish mother gave birth to a son, she was considered “unclean” and had to stay home until he was circumcised (see the note at 1.59). Then she had to stay home for another 33 days, before offering a sacrifice to the Lord.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.23 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">first-born: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 2.7.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.37 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">And now she was 84 years old: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “And now she had been a widow for 84 years.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.37 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">without eating: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish people sometimes went without eating (also called “fasting”) to show their love for God or to show sorrow for their sins.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">2.49 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">in my Father's house: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “doing my Father's work.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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