The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while2:2 Or This census took place before Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”2:23 Exodus 13:2,12), 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”2:24 Lev. 12:8
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”2:49 Or be about my Father’s business 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Kuzaliwa Kwa Yesu
(Mathayo 1:18-25)
12:1 Lk 3:1; Mt 22:17; 24:14Siku zile Kaisari Augusto alitoa amri kwamba watu wote waandikishwe katika ulimwengu wa Kirumi. 22:2 Mdo 21:3; Mt 4:24; Mdo 15:23, 41(Orodha hii ndiyo ya kwanza iliyofanyika wakati Krenio alikuwa mtawala wa Shamu2:2 Shamu inamaanisha Syria.). 3Kila mtu alikwenda kuandikishwa katika mji wake alikozaliwa.
42:4 Yn 7:42Hivyo Yosefu akapanda kutoka mji wa Nazareti ulioko Galilaya kwenda Uyahudi, mpaka Bethlehemu, mji wa Daudi, kwa sababu yeye alikuwa wa ukoo na wa nyumba ya Daudi. 52:5 Lk 1:27; Mt 1:16Alikwenda huko kujiandikisha pamoja na Maria, ambaye alikuwa amemposa naye alikuwa mjamzito. 6Wakiwa Bethlehemu, wakati wa Maria wa kujifungua ukawa umetimia, 72:7 Mt 1:25naye akamzaa mwanawe, kifungua mimba. Akamfunika nguo za kitoto na kumlaza katika hori ya kulia ngʼombe, kwa sababu hapakuwa na nafasi katika nyumba ya wageni.
Wachungaji Na Malaika
8Katika eneo lile walikuwako wachungaji waliokuwa wakikaa mashambani, wakilinda makundi yao ya kondoo usiku. 92:9 Lk 1:11; Mdo 5:19Ghafula tazama, malaika wa Bwana akawatokea, nao utukufu wa Bwana ukawangʼaria kotekote, wakaingiwa na hofu. 102:10 Mt 14:27Lakini malaika akawaambia: “Msiogope. Kwa maana tazama nawaletea habari njema za furaha itakayokuwa kwa watu wote. 112:11 Yn 3:17; Rum 11:14; Mdo 3:20; 9:22Leo katika mji wa Daudi kwa ajili yenu amezaliwa Mwokozi, ndiye Kristo2:11 Kristo maana yake ni Masiya, yaani Aliyetiwa mafuta. Bwana. 122:12 1Sam 10:7; Za 86:17Hii ndiyo itakayokuwa ishara kwenu: Mtamkuta mtoto mchanga amefunikwa nguo za kitoto na kulazwa katika hori ya kulia ngʼombe.”
132:13 Dan 7:10; Mwa 28:12; 32:12; Za 103:20, 21; 148:2; Ebr 1:14; Ufu 5:11Ghafula pakawa na jeshi kubwa la mbinguni pamoja na huyo malaika wakimsifu Mungu wakisema,
142:14 Isa 9:6; Rum 5:1“Atukuzwe Mungu juu mbinguni,
na duniani iwe amani kwa watu aliowaridhia.”
15Hao malaika walipokwisha kuondoka na kwenda zao mbinguni, wale wachungaji wakasemezana wao kwa wao, “Twendeni Bethlehemu tukaone mambo haya ya ajabu yaliyotukia, ambayo Bwana ametuambia habari zake.”
162:16 Lk 2:7Hivyo wakaenda haraka Bethlehemu, wakawakuta Maria na Yosefu na yule mtoto mchanga akiwa amelala katika hori la kulia ngʼombe. 172:17 Lk 2:10-12Walipomwona yule mtoto, wakawaeleza yale waliyokuwa wameambiwa kuhusu huyo mtoto. 18Nao wote waliosikia habari hizi wakastaajabia yale waliyoambiwa na wale wachungaji wa kondoo. 192:19 Lk 2:51Lakini Maria akayaweka mambo haya yote moyoni mwake na kuyatafakari. 202:20 Mt 9:8Wale wachungaji wakarudi, huku wakimtukuza Mungu na kumsifu kwa ajili ya mambo yote waliyokuwa wameambiwa na kuyaona.
212:21 Lk 1:31, 59Hata zilipotimia siku nane, ulikuwa ndio wakati wa kumtahiri mtoto, akaitwa Yesu, jina alilokuwa amepewa na malaika kabla hajatungwa mimba.
Yesu Apelekwa Hekaluni
222:22 Law 12:2-8Ulipotimia wakati wa utakaso wake Maria kwa mujibu wa Sheria ya Mose, basi Yosefu na Maria walimpeleka mtoto Yerusalemu, ili kumweka wakfu kwa Bwana 232:23 Kut 2:12-15; Hes 3:13(kama ilivyoandikwa katika Sheria ya Bwana, kwamba, “Kila mtoto wa kiume kifungua mimba atawekwa wakfu kwa Bwana”), 242:24 Law 12:8na pia kutoa dhabihu kulingana na yale yaliyonenwa katika Sheria ya Bwana: “Hua wawili au makinda mawili ya njiwa.”
252:25 Lk 16:6; 23:51; Isa 52:9Basi alikuwako huko Yerusalemu mtu mmoja jina lake Simeoni, ambaye alikuwa mwenye haki na mcha Mungu, akitarajia faraja ya Israeli, na Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa juu yake. 262:26 Za 89:48; Ebr 11:5Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa amemfunulia kuwa hatakufa kabla hajamwona Kristo wa Bwana. 272:27 Mwa 46:30; Flp 1:23; Lk 2:22Simeoni, akiwa ameongozwa na Roho Mtakatifu, alikwenda Hekaluni. Wazazi walipomleta mtoto Yesu ili kumfanyia kama ilivyokuwa desturi ya Sheria, 28ndipo Simeoni akampokea mtoto mikononi mwake na kumsifu Mungu, akisema:
292:29 Mdo 2:24“Bwana Mwenyezi, kama ulivyoahidi,
sasa wamruhusu mtumishi wako
aende zake kwa amani.
302:30 Isa 40:5; Lk 3:6; Isa 52:10Kwa maana macho yangu yameuona wokovu wako,
31ulioweka tayari machoni pa watu wote,
322:32 Isa 49:6; Mdo 26:23nuru kwa ajili ya ufunuo kwa watu wa Mataifa
na kwa ajili ya utukufu kwa watu wako Israeli.”
33Naye Yosefu na mama yake mtoto wakastaajabu kwa yale yaliyokuwa yamesemwa kumhusu huyo mtoto. 342:34 Mt 12:46; Isa 8:14; Gal 5:11Kisha Simeoni akawabariki, akamwambia Maria mama yake, “Mtoto huyu amewekwa kwa makusudi ya kuanguka na kuinuka kwa wengi katika Israeli. Atakuwa ishara ambayo watu watanena dhidi yake, 352:35 Za 42:10; Yn 19:25ili mawazo ya mioyo mingi yadhihirike. Nao upanga utauchoma moyo wako.”
362:36 Mdo 21:9Tena alikuwako Hekaluni nabii mmoja mwanamke, jina lake Ana binti Fanueli, wa kabila la Asheri. Alikuwa mzee sana; naye alikuwa ameolewa na kuishi na mume kwa miaka saba tu, kisha mumewe akafa. 372:37 1Tim 5:9; Mdo 14:23Hivyo alikuwa mjane na umri wake ulikuwa miaka themanini na minne. Yeye hakuondoka humo Hekaluni usiku wala mchana, bali alikuwa akimwabudu Mungu, akifunga na kuomba. 382:38 Isa 52:9; Lk 24:21Wakati huo huo, Ana alikuja akaanza kusifu, akimshukuru Mungu na kusema habari za huyo mtoto kwa watu wote waliokuwa wakitarajia ukombozi wa Yerusalemu.
392:39 Mt 2:23Yosefu na Maria walipokuwa wamekamilisha mambo yote yaliyotakiwa na Sheria ya Bwana, walirudi mjini kwao Nazareti huko Galilaya. 402:40 Lk 2:52; 1:80Naye yule mtoto akakua na kuongezeka nguvu, akiwa amejaa hekima, na neema ya Mungu ilikuwa juu yake.
Kijana Yesu Hekaluni
412:41 Kut 23:15; Lk 22:8Kila mwaka Yosefu na Maria mama yake Yesu walikuwa na desturi ya kwenda Yerusalemu kwa ajili ya Sikukuu ya Pasaka. 42Yesu alipokuwa na umri wa miaka kumi na miwili, walipanda kwenda kwenye Sikukuu hiyo kama ilivyokuwa desturi. 432:43 Kut 12:18Baada ya Sikukuu kumalizika, wakati Yosefu na Maria mama yake walipokuwa wakirudi nyumbani, Yesu alibaki Yerusalemu lakini hawakutambua. 44Wao wakidhani kuwa yuko miongoni mwa wasafiri, walienda mwendo wa kutwa nzima. Ndipo wakaanza kumtafuta miongoni mwa jamaa zao na marafiki. 45Walipomkosa walirudi Yerusalemu ili kumtafuta. 46Baada ya siku tatu wakamkuta ndani ya Hekalu, akiwa ameketi katikati ya walimu wa sheria, akiwasikiliza na kuwauliza maswali. 472:47 Mt 7:28Wote waliomsikia walistaajabishwa na uwezo wake mkubwa wa kuelewa, na majibu aliyoyatoa. 482:48 Mt 12:46; Lk 3:23; 4:22Yosefu na Maria mama yake walipomwona walishangaa. Mama yake akamuuliza, “Mwanangu, mbona umetufanyia hivi? Tazama, mimi na baba yako tumekuwa tukikutafuta kwa wasiwasi mkubwa kila mahali.”
492:49 Yn 2:16Yesu akawaambia, “Kwa nini kunitafuta? Hamkujua kwamba imenipasa kuwa katika nyumba ya Baba yangu?”
502:50 Mk 9:32Lakini wao hawakuelewa maana ya lile alilowaambia.
512:51 Lk 2:19Ndipo akashuka pamoja nao hadi Nazareti, naye alikuwa mtiifu kwao. Lakini mama yake akayaweka moyoni mwake mambo haya yote. 522:52 Mit 3; 4; Lk 1:80Naye Yesu akakua katika hekima na kimo, akimpendeza Mungu na wanadamu.
