25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, awaiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not asee death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 So he came aby 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,
28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
29 “Lord, anow You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;
31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
32aA light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
331And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the afall and rising of many in Israel, and for ba sign which will be spoken against
35 (yes, aa sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of aAsher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;
37 and this woman was a widow1 of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers anight and day.
This "custom of the law" refers specifically to the fortieth-day purification offering at the Temple. This is proven by both Mary and Joseph being in attendance, a thing she could not do if she were still unclean. Mary was ceremonially unclean on Jesus' eighth day of life, when the firstborn and circumcision ceremonies were performed at home, not at the Temple (see Luke 1:57-59 regarding the circumcision of John the Baptist). Ceremonial purity was not necessary for these latter rituals.
