Luke 2:1-14

The Birth of Jesus Christ

1 In those days ¹a decree went out from ²Caesar Augustus that all the world should be ³registered.

2 This was the first ⁴registration when^[a] Quirinius ⁵was governor of Syria.

3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 And Joseph also went up ⁶from Galilee, from the town of ⁷Nazareth, to Judea, to ⁸the city of David, which is called ⁹Bethlehem, ¹⁰because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, ^[b] who was with child.

6 And ¹¹while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and ¹²wrapped him in swaddling cloths and ¹³laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in ¹⁴the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And an angel of the Lord ¹⁵appeared to them, and ¹⁶the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all ¹⁷the people.

11 For ¹⁸unto you is born this day in ¹⁹the city of David ²⁰a Savior, who is ²¹Christ ²²the Lord.

12 And ²³this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby ²⁴wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. ”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel ²⁵a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 ²⁶“Glory to God ²⁷in the highest, ²⁸and on earth ²⁹peace ³⁰among those with whom he is pleased! ” ^[c]

Cross References

• 1. 2:1 Acts 17:7
• 2. 2:1 [ch. 3:1]
• 3. 2:1 [Acts 5:37]
• 4. 2:2 [See ver. 1 above]
• 5. 2:2 ch. 3:1
• 6. 2:4 ch. 1:26
• 7. 2:4 See Matt. 2:23
• 8. 2:4 ver. 11; John 7:42; [1 Sam. 16:1]
• 9. 2:4 Matt. 2:1
• 10. 2:4 ch. 1:27
• 11. 2:6 [See ver. 4 above]
• 12. 2:7 ver. 12
• 13. 2:7 ver. 16
• 14. 2:7 ch. 22:11 (Gk.)
• 15. 2:9 ch. 24:4; Acts 12:7
• 16. 2:9 ch. 9:31; Acts 7:55; 2 Cor. 3:18
• 17. 2:10 ver. 32; John 11:50; [Zech. 9:9]
• 18. 2:11 Isa. 9:6
• 19. 2:11 ver. 4
• 20. 2:11 Matt. 1:21; John 4:42
• 21. 2:11 Acts 2:36; 10:36; [ch. 23:2]; See Matt. 1:17
• 22. 2:11 [ch. 1:43]
• 23. 2:12 1 Sam. 2:34; 2 Kgs. 19:29; 20:8, 9; Isa. 7:11, 14
• 24. 2:12 ver. 7
• 25. 2:13 Gen. 28:12; 32:1, 2; 1 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 18:18; Ps. 103:21; 148:2; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11
• 26. 2:14 ch. 19:38; [Ps. 148:1; Matt. 21:9]
• 27. 2:14 [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
• 28. 2:14 [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
• 29. 2:14 ch. 1:79; Ps. 85:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Hag. 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20
• 30. 2:14 [ch. 3:22; 12:32; Eph. 1:5, 9; Phil. 2:13]

Footnotes

• [a] 2:2 Or 'This was the registration before'
• [b] 2:5 That is, one legally pledged to be married
• [c] 2:14 Some manuscripts 'peace, good will among men'