Bible Verse Lookup

When the day of purification came according to the law of Moses, they took the baby to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 

as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be dedicated to God. 

And they offered a sacrifice as instructed in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

There lived in Jerusalem at that time a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel;

and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord.

So, he was led into the temple by the Holy Spirit when the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law.

Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, O Lord, you can dismiss

your servant in peace,

for you have fulfilled your word

and my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.

A light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory of your people Israel.”

His father and mother wondered about what was said regarding the child. 

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: 

“Know this: your son is a sign; a sign established for the falling and rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction;

and a sword will pierce your own soul so that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father’s house, she had been married for seven years; since then, she had been continually at the temple, serving God as a widow—night and day—in fasting and prayer. 

She was now eighty-four. 

When that time came, she gave praise to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee. 

There, the child grew in stature and strength and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.