Luke 2 vs 25 - 40
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
25And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30For my eyes have seen Your salvation
31Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33[h]And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
36Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37and this woman was a widow [i]of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38And coming in that instant she gave thanks to [j]the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
The Family Returns to Nazareth
39So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40And the Child grew and became strong [k]in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Nunc dimittis
1 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
according to thy word.
2 For mine eyes have seen :
thy salvation;
3 Which thou hast prepared :
before the face of all people;
4 To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
and to be the glory of thy people Israel
Luke 2.29-32
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.
Rembrandt van Rijn, Simeon with the Infant Christ Child in the Temple, (1669) Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Simeon in the Temple or Simeons song of praise is an oil on canvas painting by the Dutch artist Rembrandt from c. 1669. It has been in the collections of Nationalmuseum in Stockholm since 1949.[1]
According to the Gospel of Luke (2: 25-35), the pious Simeon had been promised by God not to die until he saw the Messiah. When the Christ Child was presented in the temple in Jerusalem, he understood that the Savior had come and praised God ("Nunc dimittis").[1]
The painting was Rembrandt's last and remained unfinished at his death. The woman in the background, who either represents Mary or Anna the Prophetess, was probably added after artist's death by an unknown painter working in Rembrandt's workshop.[2][3]
Rembrandt had painted the same motif at least twice before: in Simeon and Anna in the Temple,[4][5] and in Simeon's Song of Praise.[6][7]