When Jesus was about a month old his parents took him to the temple in Jerusalem. As their first son Jesus had to be redeemed, and Mary had to be cleansed after the birth of a child.

A devout old man called Simeon praises God for the child and says he is now happy to die because he has seen with his own eyes the salvation that God had promised for years.

An 84 year old prophetess, Anna, gives thanks to God for the child and continues to speak of him to the people visiting the temple.