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How does the Gospel According to Luke describe the birth of Jesus?
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St. Luke
St. Luke, illuminated page from the Beatus Apocalypse, Mozarabic, 975; in the Gerona Cathedral, Spain.
The Gospel According to Luke provides a unique and detailed account of the birth of Jesus, which is distinct from the other Gospels. The narrative includes several key events:12
- The Annunciation: The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce that she will conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit.1
- The Visitation: Pregnant Mary visits her relative Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist, an encounter followed by Mary’s hymn of praise, the Magnificat.13
- The Birth: The birth occurs in Bethlehem during a census ordered by Caesar Augustus while Quirinius was governor of Syria. Because there were no other accommodations, the infant Jesus is laid in a manger.12
- The Shepherds: Angels announce the birth of the Messiah to shepherds in the fields, who then visit the newborn.14
- Infancy Rites: The account concludes with Jesus’ circumcision and his presentation at the Temple of Jerusalem, where he is encountered by Simeon and the prophet Anna.12