¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.^(B)

The Nativity of the Messiah

¹⁸ The birth of Jesus Christ came about in this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged^[a] to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.^{(C) 19} So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man,^(D) and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.^(E)

²⁰ But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.^{(F) 21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus,^(G) because he will save his people from their sins.’^(H)

²² Now all this took place to fulfil what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

which is translated ‘God is with us.’^(I)

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her^(J)

The Flight into Egypt

¹³ After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.’^(A)

²⁷ to a virgin engaged^[a](A) to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.^(B) The virgin’s name was Mary.

⁴ Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth^(A) in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,^(B) because he was of the house and family line of David,^{(C) 5} to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him^[a] and was pregnant. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger,^[b] because there was no guest room available for them.

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. ⁹ Then an angel of the Lord^(D) stood before them,^(E) and the glory of the Lord^(F) shone around them, and they were terrified.^{[c] 10} But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid,^(G) for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:^{[d] 11} Today in the city of David a Saviour^(H) was born for you, who is the Messiah,^(I) the Lord.^{(J) 12} This will be the sign for you:^(K) You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.’

¹³ Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host^[e] with the angel, praising God and saying:

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’

¹⁶ They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed^(O) at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart^(P) and meditating on them. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God^(Q) for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus

²¹ When the eight days were completed for his circumcision,^(R) he was named Jesus^(S) – the name given by the angel before he was conceived. ²² And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished,^(T) they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (just as it is written in the law of the Lord,Every firstborn male will be dedicated^[h]to the Lord^[i](U)) ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons^[j](V)).

Simeon’s Prophetic Praise

²⁵ There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout,^(W) looking forward to Israel’s consolation,^(X) and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit^(Y) that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah.^{(Z) 27} Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸ Simeon took him up in his arms, praised God, and said,

³³ His father and mother^[l] were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and told his mother Mary, ‘Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel^(AD) and to be a sign that will be opposed^[m] –  ³⁵ and a sword will pierce your own soul – that the thoughts^[n] of many hearts may be revealed.’

Anna’s Testimony

³⁶ There was also a prophetess,^(AE) Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.^(AF) She was well on in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,^{[o](AG) 37} and was a widow for eighty-four years.^[p] She did not leave the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayers.^{(AH) 38} At that very moment,^[q] she came up and began to thank God and to speak about him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.^[r](AI)

The Family’s Return to Nazareth

³⁹ When they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.^{(AJ) 40} The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on him.^(AK)

In His Father’s House

⁴¹ Every year his parents travelled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival.^{(AL) 42} When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival.^{(AM) 43} After those days were over,^(AN) as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents^[s] did not know it.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

²³ As he began his ministry, Jesus was about thirty years old and was thought to be the

²² They were all speaking well of him^[a] and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth; yet they said, ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son? ’^(A)

⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael^(A) and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets^(B)): Jesus the son of Joseph,^(C) from Nazareth.’^(D)

⁴² They were saying, ‘Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph,^(A) whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”? ’