15. Then the angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. We will see this thing the Lord told us about.”
16. So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph.
17. And the shepherds saw the baby lying in a feeding box. Then they told what the angels had said about this child.
18. Everyone was amazed when they heard what the shepherds said to them.
19. Mary hid these things in her heart; she continued to think about them.
20. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything that they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.
21. When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This name had been given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.
22. The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure. They took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
23. It is written in the law of the Lord: “Give every firstborn male to the Lord.”
24. Mary and Joseph also went to offer a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord says: “You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons.”
25. A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was a good man and very religious. He was waiting for the time when God would help Israel. The Holy Spirit was in him.
26. The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord.
27. The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do.
28. Then Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
29. “Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant,die in peace as you said.
30. I have seen your Salvation with my own eyes.
31. You prepared him before all people.