¹⁸ Now the ^[a]birth ^[b]of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also ^[a]the holy thing which is begotten ^[b]shall be called the Son of God.

³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born ^[a]anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁵ not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the ^[a]washing of regeneration ^[b]and renewing of the Holy Spirit,