There is no indication that he was a priest or had official duties. Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel . First, the Holy Spirit was upon him . The Holy Spirit was active in the world even before Pentecost. Secondly, the Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that he would not die before he had seen the Lord s Christ .
Private revelation claimed by individuals can easily get out of hand.
In Simeon s case, however, what the Spirit revealed was not some new-fangled thing. Scripture and the Holy Spirit went hand in hand. And it was in the Temple that he could expect to see the Messiah. For Luke the Temple is extremely important. At his birth Jesus was brought to the Temple.