[Footnote a: This simple statement of Luke tells more in one sentence than all the apocryphal Gospels of the Infancy, with their silly legends about the miraculous prowess of the child Jesus.] § 18. THE VISIT OF THE BOY JESUS TO JERUSALEM WHEN TWELVE YEARS OLD Probably A.D. 7 or 8 Luke 2:41-50 41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the 42 passover [_see Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:1-8_]. And when he was 43 twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; 44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; 45 and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for 46 him. And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the [1]doctors, both hearing them, 47 and asking them questions: and all that heard him were amazed at 48 his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said unto him, [2]Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee 49 sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? 50 wist ye not that I must be [3]in my Father's house? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. [Footnote 1: Or, _teachers_.] [Footnote 2: Gr. _Child_.] [Footnote 3: Or, _about my Father's business_.] § 19. THE EIGHTEEN YEARS[a] AT NAZARETH Probably A.D. 7 to A.D. 26 (or 6 to 25) Luke 2:51-52 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all _these_ [1]sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and [2]stature, and in [3]favour with God and men [_see 1 Sam. 2:26_]. [Footnote 1: Or, _things_.] [Footnote 2: Or, _age_.] [Footnote 3: Or, _grace_.] [Footnote a: After the return to Nazareth, we know nothing of Jesus' life at that place beyond the general statements of Luke 2:52, with the knowledge and dispositions indicated in the narrative of § 18 and the fact that he was a carpenter, until he comes forth to be baptized by John, his forerunner. The social and political conditions of this period in Galilee are described by Edersheim, D. Smith, and other writers on the Life of Jesus, and briefly stated in Broadus's Commentary on Matthew, p. 30 f. Dwell on the general statement of Luke 2:52. Other passages throw light on the life in Nazareth as to habits of worship (Luke 4:16), the family group of brothers and sisters (Mark 6:3 = Matt. 13:55 f.), work as carpenter (_ibid._). A helpful book on this obscure period is Ramsay's _The Education of Christ_.] PART V THE BEGINNING OF THE BAPTIST'S MINISTRY