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Text -- Luke 2:1-40 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
The Census and the Birth of Jesus
2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes.
2:2 This was the first registration , taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria .
2:3 Everyone went to his own town to be registered .
2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea , to the city of David called Bethlehem , because he was of the house and family line of David .
2:5 He went to be registered with Mary , who was promised in marriage to him , and who was expecting a child .
2:6 While they were there , the time came for her to deliver her child .
2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger , because there was no place for them in the inn .
The Shepherds’ Visit
2:8 Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field , keeping guard over their flock at night .
2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them , and the glory of the Lord shone around them , and they were absolutely terrified .
2:10 But the angel said to them , “Do not be afraid ! Listen carefully , for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people :
2:11 Today your Savior is born in the city of David . He is Christ the Lord .
2:12 This will be a sign for you : You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger .”
2:13 Suddenly a vast , heavenly army appeared with the angel , praising God and saying ,
2:14 “Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased !”
2:15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven , the shepherds said to one another , “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place , that the Lord has made known to us .”
2:16 So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph , and found the baby lying in a manger .
2:17 When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child ,
2:18 and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said .
2:19 But Mary treasured up all these words , pondering in her heart what they might mean.
2:20 So the shepherds returned , glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen ; everything was just as they had been told .
2:21 At the end of eight days , when he was circumcised , he was named Jesus , the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb .
Jesus’ Presentation at the Temple
2:22 Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses , Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord , “Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord ”),
2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord , a pair of doves or two young pigeons .
The Prophecy of Simeon
2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout , looking for the restoration of Israel , and the Holy Spirit was upon him .
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ .
2:27 So Simeon, directed by the Spirit , came into the temple courts , and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law ,
2:28 Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God , saying ,
2:29 “Now , according to your word , Sovereign Lord , permit your servant to depart in peace .
2:30 For my eyes have seen your salvation
2:31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples :
2:32 a light , for revelation to the Gentiles , and for glory to your people Israel .”
2:33 So the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him .
2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary , “Listen carefully : This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected .
2:35 Indeed , as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!”
The Testimony of Anna
2:36 There was also a prophetess , Anna the daughter of Phanuel , of the tribe of Asher . She was very old , having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.
2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years . She never left the temple , worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day .
2:38 At that moment , she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem .
2:39 So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord , they returned to Galilee , to their own town of Nazareth .
2:40 And the child grew and became strong , filled with wisdom , and the favor of God was upon him .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Luk 2:1; Luk 2:1; Luk 2:1; Luk 2:1; Luk 2:1; Luk 2:1; Luk 2:1; Luk 2:2; Luk 2:3; Luk 2:3; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:4; Luk 2:5; Luk 2:5; Luk 2:6; Luk 2:6; Luk 2:7; Luk 2:7; Luk 2:7; Luk 2:7; Luk 2:8; Luk 2:8; Luk 2:8; Luk 2:8; Luk 2:9; Luk 2:9; Luk 2:9; Luk 2:9; Luk 2:9; Luk 2:10; Luk 2:10; Luk 2:11; Luk 2:11; Luk 2:11; Luk 2:11; Luk 2:11; Luk 2:12; Luk 2:12; Luk 2:12; Luk 2:13; Luk 2:13; Luk 2:14; Luk 2:14; Luk 2:14; Luk 2:15; Luk 2:15; Luk 2:15; Luk 2:16; Luk 2:17; Luk 2:17; Luk 2:17; Luk 2:18; Luk 2:19; Luk 2:20; Luk 2:20; Luk 2:20; Luk 2:20; Luk 2:21; Luk 2:21; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:22; Luk 2:23; Luk 2:23; Luk 2:24; Luk 2:24; Luk 2:25; Luk 2:25; Luk 2:25; Luk 2:25; Luk 2:25; Luk 2:25; Luk 2:26; Luk 2:26; Luk 2:26; Luk 2:26; Luk 2:26; Luk 2:26; Luk 2:27; Luk 2:27; Luk 2:27; Luk 2:27; Luk 2:27; Luk 2:27; Luk 2:28; Luk 2:28; Luk 2:29; Luk 2:29; Luk 2:29; Luk 2:29; Luk 2:29; Luk 2:29; Luk 2:30; Luk 2:31; Luk 2:32; Luk 2:32; Luk 2:33; Luk 2:33; Luk 2:33; Luk 2:33; Luk 2:34; Luk 2:34; Luk 2:34; Luk 2:34; Luk 2:34; Luk 2:35; Luk 2:35; Luk 2:35; Luk 2:35; Luk 2:36; Luk 2:37; Luk 2:37; Luk 2:38; Luk 2:38; Luk 2:38; Luk 2:38; Luk 2:38; Luk 2:38; Luk 2:39; Luk 2:39; Luk 2:39; Luk 2:39; Luk 2:39; Luk 2:39; Luk 2:40; Luk 2:40; Luk 2:40; Luk 2:40
NET Notes: Luk 2:1 Grk “the whole (inhabited) world,” but this was a way to refer to the Roman empire (L&N 1.83).
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NET Notes: Luk 2:2 Or “was a minister of Syria.” This term could simply refer to an administrative role Quirinius held as opposed to being governor (Josephus...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:5 Traditionally, “Mary, his betrothed.” Although often rendered in contemporary English as “Mary, who was engaged to him,” this ...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:6 The words “her child” are not in the Greek text, but have been supplied to clarify what was being delivered. The wording here is like Luke...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:7 There was no place for them in the inn. There is no drama in how this is told. There is no search for a variety of places to stay or a heartless innke...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:11 The term χριστός (cristos) was originally an adjective (“anointed”), developing in LXX into a substanti...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:15 Note how although angels delivered the message, it was the Lord whose message is made known, coming through them.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:18 Grk “marveled.” It is a hard word to translate with one term in this context. There is a mixture of amazement and pondering at work in con...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:19 The term συμβάλλουσα (sumballousa) suggests more than remembering. She is trying to put things ...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:20 The closing remark just as they had been told notes a major theme of Luke 1-2 as he sought to reassure Theophilus: God does what he says he will do.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:21 Jesus’ parents obeyed the angel as Zechariah and Elizabeth had (1:57-66). These events are taking place very much under God’s direction.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:22 For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:25 Once again, by mentioning the Holy Spirit, Luke stresses the prophetic enablement of a speaker. The Spirit has fallen on both men (Zechariah, 1:67) an...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:26 The revelation to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ is yet another example of a promise fulfilled in Luke 1-2. A...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:28 Grk “and said.” The finite verb in Greek has been replaced with a participle in English to improve the smoothness of the translation.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:31 Is the phrase all peoples a reference to Israel alone, or to both Israel and the Gentiles? The following verse makes it clear that all peoples include...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:32 In other words, Jesus is a special cause for praise and honor (“glory”) for the nation.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:33 The term refers to the amazement at what was happening as in other places in Luke 1–2 (1:63; 2:18). The participle is plural, while the finite v...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:35 This remark looks to be parenthetical and addressed to Mary alone, not the nation. Many modern English translations transpose this to make it the fina...
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NET Notes: Luk 2:36 Her age is emphasized by the Greek phrase here, “she was very old in her many days.”
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NET Notes: Luk 2:37 The statements about Anna worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day make her extreme piety clear.
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NET Notes: Luk 2:38 For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
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