Luke 2:44 (DRB)

Passage

And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

Nearby Context

Luke 2:42 And when he was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast,

Luke 2:43 And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not.

Luke 2:44 And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance.

Luke 2:45 And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him.

Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thinking", "company", "came", "day's", "journey", "sought", "kinsfolks", and "acquaintance". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thinking" and "company", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 43's "And having fulfilled the days when they..." into verse 45's "And not finding him they returned into...", so "thinking" and "company" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "thinking" and "company" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.