The birth narrative places Jesus' nativity in Bethlehem during Caesar Augustus' census, with Mary laying the swaddled infant in a manger because there was no room in the inn, while shepherds receive angelic announcement of a Savior born who is Christ the Lord. The heavenly host's 'Gloria in excelsis' sends the shepherds to verify the sign, and after eight days Jesus is circumcised and named, then presented in the Jerusalem temple where the aged Simeon's Nunc Dimittis proclaims Him as light for Gentile revelation and Israel's glory. The prophetess Anna similarly gives thanks, and the Holy Family returns to Nazareth, with the twelve-year-old Jesus later found in the temple among teachers, declaring His necessity to be about His Father's business.
Read Luke Chapter 2 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
The Savior of all humanity
Virgin mother who treasured God's words in her heart
Physician and careful historian
The One Who Buried Jesus
King of Israel
Sister of Martha and Lazarus
Prophet and Lawgiver
The One Who Saw Salvation
The Prophetess Who Proclaimed Redemption
Places in This Chapter
Galilee was a region in northern Israel where Jesus grew up and conducted much of His ministry. Jesus called His first disciples here, performed many miracles, and taught large crowds. After His resurrection, Jesus met His disciples in Galilee and commissioned them to make disciples of all nations.
Nazareth is the town in Galilee where Jesus grew up and spent most of his life before his public ministry. It was a small, obscure village in ancient times, which led Nathanael to ask "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary here to announce she would give birth to the Son of God. Jesus was known as "Jesus of Nazareth" throughout his ministry.
The Temple in Jerusalem was the permanent house of worship built by Solomon on Mount Moriah. Destroyed by Babylon, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and later greatly expanded by Herod. Jesus taught in the Temple courts, cleared it of merchants, and predicted its destruction, which occurred in 70 AD.
Position in Book
Annunciations, births of John and Jesus, presentation.
Bible Bites
Luke Wrote for Gentiles
Luke is the only Gentile author in the New Testament. A physician by profession, he wrote his Gospel and Acts specifically for a Gentile audience, tracing Jesus' genealogy all the way back to Adam, father of all humanity.
Luke