Luke 2:34-44

34 Then Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: "Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed^[a]-

35 and a sword will pierce your own soul-that the thoughts^[b] of many hearts may be revealed."

Anna's Testimony

36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well along in years,^[c] having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,^[d]

37 and was a widow for 84 years.^[e] She did not leave the temple complex, serving God night and day with fastings and prayers.

38 At that very moment,^[f] she came up and began to thank God and to speak about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.^{[g] [h]}

The Family's Return to Nazareth

39 When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

40 The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God's grace was on Him.

In His Father's House

41 Every year His parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.

42 When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.^[i]

43 After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents^[j] did not know it.

44 Assuming He was in the traveling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.

Footnotes

• [a] Or spoken against
• [b] Or schemes
• [c] Lit in many days
• [d] Lit years from her virginity
• [e] Or she was a widow until the age of 84
• [f] Lit very hour
• [g] Other mss read in Jerusalem
• [h] Isaiah 52:9
• [i] Dt 16:16-17
• [j] Other mss read but Joseph and His mother