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Though Jesus was to liberate men and women from their obligation to the Jewish ritual law, he himself fulfilled its requirements. As Paul says, he was “born of a woman, born under law” (Gal 4:4). He was circumcised, his mother went through a ceremony of purification, and he was consecrated to God (vv.21-24).
Two people gave testimony to Jesus at this time. Simeon, a man full of the Spirit, was waiting to see the Messiah. In his hymn, the “Nunc Dimittis” (vv.29-32), he recognized Jesus as the Savior who would give light to all nations. Simeon’s words imply that Jesus is the Servant spoken of in Isa 42:6; 49:6; 52:10. Simeon also prophesied the conflict and opposition that Jesus would arouse and the sorrow that Mary would experience (vv.34-35). The other person to give testimony to Jesus was the prophetess Anna (vv.36-38), but Luke gives no account of what she said.