18 ¶ Now, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise; When as his mother Mary was espoused d to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Wise men of the east.

ed from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife;

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son; and he called his name JESUS.

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for he shall save his people from their sins.

22 (New all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name EMMANUEL; which, being interpreted, is, God with us.)

24 Then Joseph, being raisd Espoused, not married, but betrothed or engaged to be married.

5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet, k

6 And thou Beth-lehem, in

worship Jesus.

the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go, and search diligently for the young child; and, when ye have found him, bring me word again, that Í may come and worship him also.

was.

9 When they had heard the king they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the child young 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him; and, when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12 Ånd being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13 And, when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, arise, and

1 Princes. That is, chief cities.

Herod's cruelty.

take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;

15 And was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son.

John's preaching..

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

16 ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked m of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy n the prophet, saying,

18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead which sought the young child's life. m Mocked, deluded or deceived. Jeremy, Jeremiah the prophet.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee;

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. o

8 Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance. g

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Christ baptized.

therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees;h c Lord. In the Hebrew of the Old Testament Jehovah. d Make his paths straight. In ancient times, when princes and sovereigns journeyed, pioneers or attendants, went before to level and straighten the way for them; so John preached repentance and reformation to prepare the way for the Saviour of men.

e Camel's hair, a coarse cloth. f Pharisees and Sadducees; see Introduction, pages 6 and 7.

g Let your conduct prove your repentance sincere.

b And now the axe, &c. The Gospel is the last dispensation of mercy we are ever to expect. They, who neglect and disobey it, must suffer all the evils it denounces upon the impenitent.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fani is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purgej his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; k but he will burn up the chaff with'unquenchable fire.

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Christ tempted;

17 And, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

goes to Capernaum.

these things will I give thee, If thou wilt fall down and worship me.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the boly city,and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them ; 9 And saith unto him, All

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan ; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him; and, behold, angels came and ministered a unto him.

12 ¶ Now, when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee ; b

13 And, leaving Nazareth,c he came and dwelt in Capernaum, d which is upon the seaa Ministered unto, waited upon. b Galilee, a large fertile territory the northern parts of Canaan.

in

Here our Saviour and most of his disciples were educated; and here he taught and wrought most of his miracles.

c Nazareth, a small city of Galilee about 70 or 75 miles north of Jerusalem, and a little west of mount Taof its inhabitants. In this obscure city

bor. It was noted for the wickedness

our Saviour lived and laboured most

of the thirty first years of his life; but when he began to preach, the people being offended, and attempting to destroy him, by throwing him from their hands and afterwards refrom the brow of a hill, he escaped sided little in the place.

d Capernaum, one of the principal cities of Galilee at the north end of lake Gennesareth, where, after leaving Nazareth, Jesus frequently resided and taught; hence it was said to be exalted to heaven; but from its negligence in improving the instructions of Christ, he said it should be cast

down to hell. The sufferings of this city from the Romans, soon after, were excessive.