O Nascimento de Jesus
(Mt 1.18-25)
1Naqueles dias, César Augusto publicou um decreto ordenando o recenseamento de todo o império romano. 2Este foi o primeiro recenseamento feito quando Quirino era governador da Síria. 3E todos iam para a sua cidade natal, a fim de alistar-se.
4Assim, José também foi da cidade de Nazaré da Galileia para a Judeia, para Belém, cidade de Davi, porque pertencia à casa e à linhagem de Davi. 5Ele foi a fim de alistar-se, com Maria, que lhe estava prometida em casamento e esperava um filho.
6Enquanto estavam lá, chegou o tempo de nascer o bebê, 7e ela deu à luz o seu primogênito. Envolveu-o em panos e o colocou numa manjedoura, porque não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.
Os Pastores e os Anjos
8Havia pastores que estavam nos campos próximos e durante a noite tomavam conta dos seus rebanhos. 9E aconteceu que um anjo do Senhor apareceu-lhes e a glória do Senhor resplandeceu ao redor deles; e ficaram aterrorizados. 10Mas o anjo lhes disse: “Não tenham medo. Estou trazendo boas-novas de grande alegria para vocês, que são para todo o povo: 11Hoje, na cidade de Davi, nasceu o Salvador, que é Cristo2.11 Ou Messias. Tanto Cristo (grego) como Messias (hebraico) significam Ungido; também em todo o livro de Lucas., o Senhor. 12Isto servirá de sinal para vocês: encontrarão o bebê envolto em panos e deitado numa manjedoura”.
13De repente, uma grande multidão do exército celestial apareceu com o anjo, louvando a Deus e dizendo:
14“Glória a Deus nas alturas,
e paz na terra aos homens
aos quais ele concede o seu favor”.
15Quando os anjos os deixaram e foram para os céus, os pastores disseram uns aos outros: “Vamos a Belém, e vejamos isso que aconteceu, e que o Senhor nos deu a conhecer”.
16Então correram para lá e encontraram Maria e José e o bebê deitado na manjedoura. 17Depois de o verem, contaram a todos o que lhes fora dito a respeito daquele menino, 18e todos os que ouviram o que os pastores diziam ficaram admirados. 19Maria, porém, guardava todas essas coisas e sobre elas refletia em seu coração. 20Os pastores voltaram glorificando e louvando a Deus por tudo o que tinham visto e ouvido, como lhes fora dito.
Jesus é Apresentado no Templo
21Completando-se os oito dias para a circuncisão do menino, foi-lhe posto o nome de Jesus, o qual lhe tinha sido dado pelo anjo antes de ele nascer.
22Completando-se o tempo da purificação deles, de acordo com a Lei de Moisés, José e Maria o levaram a Jerusalém para apresentá-lo ao Senhor 23(como está escrito na Lei do Senhor: “Todo primogênito do sexo masculino será consagrado ao Senhor”)2.23 Êx 13.2,12 24e para oferecer um sacrifício, de acordo com o que diz a Lei do Senhor: “duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos”2.24 Lv 12.8.
25Havia em Jerusalém um homem chamado Simeão, que era justo e piedoso, e que esperava a consolação de Israel; e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele. 26Fora-lhe revelado pelo Espírito Santo que ele não morreria antes de ver o Cristo do Senhor. 27Movido pelo Espírito, ele foi ao templo. Quando os pais trouxeram o menino Jesus para lhe fazerem o que requeria o costume da Lei, 28Simeão o tomou nos braços e louvou a Deus, dizendo:
29“Ó Soberano, como prometeste,
agora podes despedir em paz o teu servo.
30Pois os meus olhos já viram a tua salvação,
31que preparaste à vista de todos os povos:
32luz para revelação aos gentios2.32 Isto é, os que não são judeus.
e para a glória de Israel, teu povo”.
33O pai e a mãe do menino estavam admirados com o que fora dito a respeito dele. 34E Simeão os abençoou e disse a Maria, mãe de Jesus: “Este menino está destinado a causar a queda e o soerguimento de muitos em Israel, e a ser um sinal de contradição, 35de modo que o pensamento de muitos corações será revelado. Quanto a você, uma espada atravessará a sua alma”.
36Estava ali a profetisa Ana, filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser. Era muito idosa; tinha vivido com seu marido sete anos depois de se casar 37e então permanecera viúva até a idade de oitenta e quatro anos2.37 Ou viúva por oitenta e quatro anos. Nunca deixava o templo: adorava a Deus jejuando e orando dia e noite. 38Tendo chegado ali naquele exato momento, deu graças a Deus e falava a respeito do menino a todos os que esperavam a redenção de Jerusalém.
39Depois de terem feito tudo o que era exigido pela Lei do Senhor, voltaram para a sua própria cidade, Nazaré, na Galileia. 40O menino crescia e se fortalecia, enchendo-se de sabedoria; e a graça de Deus estava sobre ele.
O Menino Jesus no Templo
41Todos os anos seus pais iam a Jerusalém para a festa da Páscoa. 42Quando ele completou doze anos de idade, eles subiram à festa, conforme o costume. 43Terminada a festa, voltando seus pais para casa, o menino Jesus ficou em Jerusalém, sem que eles percebessem. 44Pensando que ele estava entre os companheiros de viagem, caminharam o dia todo. Então começaram a procurá-lo entre seus parentes e conhecidos. 45Não o encontrando, voltaram a Jerusalém para procurá-lo. 46Depois de três dias o encontraram no templo, sentado entre os mestres, ouvindo-os e fazendo-lhes perguntas. 47Todos os que o ouviam ficavam maravilhados com o seu entendimento e com as suas respostas. 48Quando seus pais o viram, ficaram perplexos. Sua mãe lhe disse: “Filho, por que você nos fez isto? Seu pai e eu estávamos aflitos, à sua procura”.
49Ele perguntou: “Por que vocês estavam me procurando? Não sabiam que eu devia estar na casa de meu Pai?” 50Mas eles não compreenderam o que lhes dizia.
51Então foi com eles para Nazaré e era-lhes obediente. Sua mãe, porém, guardava todas essas coisas em seu coração. 52Jesus ia crescendo em sabedoria, estatura e graça diante de Deus e dos homens.
Jesus Is Born
1In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world. 2It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3Everyone went to their own town to be listed.
4So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. 5He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby. 6While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. 7She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. That’s because there was no guest room where they could stay.
8There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were taking care of their sheep. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will bring 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. 12Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said,
14“May glory be given to God in the highest heaven!
And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!”
15The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s 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. The baby was lying in the manger. 17After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. 18All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over. 20The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told.
21When the child was eight days old, he was circumcised. At the same time he was named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.
Joseph and Mary Take Jesus to the Temple
22The time came for making Mary “clean” as required by the Law of Moses. So Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem. There they presented him to the Lord. 23In the Law of the Lord it says, “The first boy born in every family must be set apart for the Lord.” (Exodus 13:2,12) 24They also offered a sacrifice. They did it in keeping with the Law, which says, “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” (Leviticus 12:8)
25In Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was a good and godly man. He was waiting for God’s promise to Israel to come true. The Holy Spirit was with him. 26The Spirit had told Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27The Spirit led him into the temple courtyard. Then Jesus’ parents brought the child in. They came to do for him what the Law required. 28Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,
29“Lord, you are the King over all.
Now let me, your servant, go in peace.
That is what you promised.
30My eyes have seen your salvation.
31You have prepared it in the sight of all nations.
32It is a light to be given to the Gentiles.
It will be the glory of your people Israel.”
33The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them. He said to Mary, Jesus’ mother, “This child is going to cause many people in Israel to fall and to rise. God has sent him. But many will speak against him. 35The thoughts of many hearts will be known. A sword will wound your own soul too.”
36There was also a prophet named Anna. She was the daughter of Penuel from the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. After getting married, she lived with her husband seven years. 37Then she was a widow until she was 84. She never left the temple. She worshiped night and day, praying and going without food. 38Anna came up to Jesus’ family at that moment. She gave thanks to God. And she spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the time when Jerusalem would be set free.
39Joseph and Mary did everything the Law of the Lord required. Then they returned to Galilee. They went to their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong. He was very wise. He was blessed by God’s grace.
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. 42When Jesus was 12 years old, they went up to the feast as usual. 43After the feast was over, his parents left to go back home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But they were not aware of it. 44They thought he was somewhere in their group. So they traveled on for a day. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45They did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courtyard. He was sitting with the teachers. He was listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at how much he understood. They also were amazed at his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were amazed. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried about you. We have been looking for you everywhere.”
49“Why were you looking for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what he meant by that.
51Then he went back to Nazareth with them, and he obeyed them. But his mother kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. 52Jesus became wiser and stronger. He also became more and more pleasing to God and to people.
