Luke 2:25-40

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was 1righteous and 2devout, 3waiting for 4the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not 5see death before he had seen 6the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when 7the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
28 he took him up in his arms and 8blessed God and said,
29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart 9in peace, 10according to your word;
30 for 11my eyes have seen your 12salvation
31 13that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 14a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and 15for glory to 16your people Israel."
33 And 17his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed 18for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign 19that is opposed
35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
36 And there was 20a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,
37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[b] She did not depart from the temple, 21worshiping with 22fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were 23waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth

39 And when they had performed everything according to 24the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of 25Nazareth.
40 26And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Cross References 26

  • 1. Luke 1:6
  • 2. Acts 2:5; Acts 8:2; Acts 22:12
  • 3. ver. 38; Luke 23:51; Isaiah 25:9; Mark 15:43; [Genesis 49:18]
  • 4. Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 57:18
  • 5. Psalms 89:48; John 8:51; Hebrews 11:5; [Acts 2:27]
  • 6. [Luke 9:20; Luke 23:35; 1 Samuel 24:6]
  • 7. ver. 33, 41, 43, 48-51
  • 8. Luke 1:64
  • 9. Genesis 15:15
  • 10. ver. 26
  • 11. Isaiah 52:10
  • 12. See Luke 3:6
  • 13. Psalms 98:2; See Luke 24:47
  • 14. Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 52:10; Isaiah 60:3; John 8:12; Acts 13:47; Acts 26:23
  • 15. [Isaiah 45:25; Isaiah 46:13]
  • 16. ver. 10
  • 17. ver. 27
  • 18. [Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 21:44; John 9:39; 1 Corinthians 1:23, 24; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 1 Peter 2:8, 9]
  • 19. Acts 28:22
  • 20. See Exodus 15:20
  • 21. 1 Timothy 5:5
  • 22. Luke 5:33; Matthew 6:16-18; Acts 13:2; Acts 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 11:27
  • 23. ver. 25; See Luke 1:68
  • 24. ver. 23
  • 25. ver. 4
  • 26. Luke 1:80

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Greek bondservant
  • [b]. Or as a widow for eighty-four years
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.