The Visit of the Wise Men

2 Now ^(A)after Jesus was born in ^(B)Bethlehem of Judea ^(C)in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men^[a] from ^(D)the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born ^(E)king of the Jews? For we saw ^(F)his star when it rose^[b] and have come to ^(G)worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where ^(H)the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, ^(K)they offered him gifts, ^(L)gold and ^(M)frankincense and ^(N)myrrh. ¹² And ^(O)being warned ^(P)in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

^4 (A)John appeared, baptizing in ^(B)the wilderness and proclaiming ^(C)a baptism of ^(D)repentance ^(E)for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^(F)confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was ^(G)clothed with camel's hair and ^(H)wore a leather belt around his waist and ate ^(I)locusts and ^(J)wild honey. ⁷ And he preached, saying, ^(K)“After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ^8 (L)I have baptized you with water, but ^(M)he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

^9 (N)In those days Jesus ^(O)came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And when he came up out of the water, immediately he ^(P)saw ^(Q)the heavens being torn open ^(R)and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And ^(S)a voice came from heaven, ^(T)“You are my beloved Son;^[a] with you I am well pleased.”