Mary

21When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised, as God's law told his people to do. He was named Jesus. The angel had given that name before the baby began to grow inside Mary.

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

NoteBeing circumcised meant a small piece of skin was cut off a baby boy. It did not take long, and it was done when he was eight days old. It was a sign that he belonged to God's people. The name Jesus means "the Lord saves."

22Then it was time for Mary to be made clean, as the law of Moses said. Moses was the leader who gave God's people their laws long ago. Joseph and Mary took Jesus to Jerusalem to give him to the Lord.

And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

NoteGod's law said a mother should wait a while after a baby was born. Then she came to the temple to be made clean again. Moses was the leader who gave God's people their laws long before this.

23God's law says this: "Every firstborn boy belongs to the Lord in a special way."

(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

NoteThe oldest son in a family was special. God's law said the family should give him back to God. Parents brought him to the temple to show he was God's.

24They also brought a gift for God, just as the law said: two turtledoves or two young pigeons.

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

NoteFamilies usually brought a lamb as a gift to God. Families with less money could bring two small birds instead. Mary and Joseph brought birds.

25A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He did what was right, and he loved God. He was waiting for God to comfort the people of Israel. God's Holy Spirit was with him.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Note"Devout" means he loved God and did what God said. Israel was the name of God's people. Simeon was waiting for God to comfort them and help them. The King James says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit. It means God's Holy Spirit.

26The Holy Spirit had told Simeon something. He would not die before he saw the Lord's Christ, the king God promised.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

NoteGod told Simeon a secret only he knew. He would live until he saw the promised king.

27The Spirit led Simeon into the temple, God's house in Jerusalem. Jesus' parents brought the child in to do what the law said.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

NoteThe temple was God's house in Jerusalem. People came there to pray and bring gifts to God.

28Simeon took the baby in his arms. He thanked God and said:

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29"Lord, you have kept your promise. Now you may let me, your servant, go in peace."

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

NoteSimeon means he is ready to die now, and he is happy. He had waited a long time, and now he had seen the child.

30"With my own eyes I have seen the one you sent to save people."

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31"You have made him ready for all people to see."

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32"He is a light to show the way to people who are not Jewish. He brings honor to your people, Israel."

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

NoteGentiles are people who are not Jewish. Simeon says this child will be like a light for everyone.

33Joseph and Jesus' mother were amazed at what Simeon said about him.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34Simeon asked God to bless them. He said to Mary, "Because of this child, many people in Israel will fall, and many will rise. People will speak against him."

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

NoteSimeon means some people will follow this child and some will not. "Spoken against" means people will argue about him and say unkind things.

35"And a sword will cut through your own heart too. All of this will show what people are really thinking inside."

(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

NoteA sword is a long sharp knife. This is a word picture, not a real sword. It means Mary would feel very deep sadness one day.

36Anna was there too. She was a prophetess, a woman who told people what God said. Her father was Phanuel, from the family of Aser. She was very old. She had been married for seven years.

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

NoteA prophetess is a woman who tells people what God says. Aser was one of the twelve big families of Israel. Each family came from one of twelve brothers long ago.

37Then her husband died. She stayed a widow, a woman whose husband has died, until she was eighty-four years old. She never left the temple. She served God night and day. She prayed, and she went without food to pray.

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

NoteA widow is a woman whose husband has died. The King James says "fourscore and four." A score is twenty, so that means eighty-four. Fasting means going without food for a while, to pray.

38Right then Anna came up and thanked God too. She told about the child to everyone who was waiting for God to set Jerusalem free.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

NoteThese people were waiting for God to help Jerusalem. Another country ruled them, and they wanted to be free.

25Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas was there, and Mary Magdalene.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

NoteMany women in that time were named Mary. "Magdalene" tells us which one. It means she came from a town called Magdala.

26Jesus saw his mother. He saw the follower he loved standing beside her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son."

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

NoteCalling his mother "Woman" sounds rude to us today. In their language it was a polite and gentle way to speak.

27Then he said to that follower, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the follower took her into his own home.

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

12Then they walked back to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives. It was close to the city, only a short walk away.

Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.

NoteThe Mount of Olives is a hill next to Jerusalem. Olive trees grew all over it. The King James calls the walk "a sabbath day's journey." The Sabbath was the day for resting. People were allowed to walk only a short way that day, about half a mile.

13They came into the city and went up to the room upstairs where they were staying. These men were there: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, and Thomas. Also Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

NoteThe room upstairs was on the top floor of a house. People used such rooms for guests and for meals. Simon was called a Zealot. Zealots were people who wanted the Roman soldiers out of their land.

14They all kept praying together, with one heart. The women were with them, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

NoteThe King James says "his brethren." Brethren is an old word for brothers.