The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹⁸ Now the birth of ^(A)Jesus Christ^[a] took place in this way. ^(B)When his mother Mary had been betrothed^[b] to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child ^(C)from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling ^(D)to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, ^(E)an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and ^(F)you shall call his name Jesus, ^(G)for he will save his people from their sins.” ^22 (H)All this took place ^(I)to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

(which means, God ^(L)with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And ^(M)he called his name Jesus.

⁸ Therefore ^(A)do not be ashamed of ^(B)the testimony about our Lord, nor of ^(C)me his prisoner, but ^(D)share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ^9 (E)who saved us and ^(F)called us to^[a] a holy calling, ^(G)not because of our works but because of ^(H)his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus ^(I)before the ages began,^{[b] 10} and which now has ^(J)been manifested through ^(K)the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, ^(L)who abolished death and ^(M)brought life and ^(N)immortality to light through the gospel, ^11 (O)for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, ^12 (P)which is why I suffer as I do. But ^(Q)I am not ashamed, for ^(R)I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until ^(S)that day ^(T)what has been entrusted to me.^[c]