25And, behold, there was a man at Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it had been divinely communicated to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, till he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27And he came by the spirit into the temple; just as the parents were bringing in the child Jesus, that they might do according to what was the custom of the law concerning him; 28and he took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Now dismiss thy servant, Lord, according to thy word, in peace; 30for my eyes have seen thy salvation, 31which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. 32A light to give revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to thy people Israel.
33And Joseph and his mother were amazed at the things spoken concerning him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, Behold, this child is appointed for the fall, and rising again of many in Israel; and for a marked object to be spoken against; 35(so shall a dart pierce through thy own soul) that the reasonings of many hearts may be laid open,
36And there was Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asser: she was far advanced in old age, having lived but seven years with a husband, from her virgin state: 37though she was now a widow, of about eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, attending the divine service, with fastings and prayers night and day: 38and at the very same moment coming up, she also in turn confessed the Lord, and spake of him to all who were expecting redemption in Jerusalem.
39And when they had finished all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, into their own city Nazareth. 40And the child grew, and became endued with great powers of spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.
41And his parents went annually to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. 43And when they had concluded the days, as they were returning, the child Jesus remained at Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew it not: 44but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their relations and acquaintances; 45and not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem in search of him. 46And it came to pass after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him, were in a transport of admiration, at his understanding and answers. 48And when they saw him, they were struck with surprise; and his mother said to him, Son, why hast thou behaved to us in this manner? lo! thy father and I have been seeking thee in anguish of heart. 49And he said unto them, Wherefore did ye seek me? did you not know, that I must be occupied with my Father’s affairs? 50And they understood not the meaning of what he spake to them. 51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was in subjection to them: though his mother preserved all these sayings in her heart. 52And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
[CHAP. III.]
NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene: 2when Annas and Caiaphas were high-priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness; 3and he came into all the country on the confines of Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths strait: 5every valley shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be levelled, and the crooked ways made strait, and the rough roads smooth: 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” 7He said, therefore, to the multitudes who came out to be baptised by him, Ye broods of vipers, who hath warned you to fly from the approaching wrath? 8Produce then fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say in yourselves, We have a father, even Abraham; for I say unto you, That God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9But now is the ax laid even to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that produceth not good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire.
10And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then shall we do? 11And he answering said to them, He that hath two coats, let him give to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, let him do in like manner. 12Then came also the farmers of the taxes to be baptised, and they said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13He said unto them, Exact nothing more than is appointed for you. 14And the military men also asked him, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Extort nothing by force; nor turn informers; and be content with your pay.
15Now when the people were in expectation, and many reasoned in their hearts respecting John, whether he were the Messiah, 16John addressed himself to them all, saying, I indeed baptise you with water; but one mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire; 17whose winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, and collect the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. 18Thus in many and various discourses exhorting them, he preached the glad tidings of the gospel to the people.
19Now Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him, on account of Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the other wicked actions which he had done, 20added this also to all the rest, and shut up John in prison.