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.

For God So Loved the World

¹⁶ “For ^(A)God so loved ^(B)the world,^{[a] (C)}that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not ^(D)perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For ^(E)God did not send his Son into the world ^(F)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ^18 (G)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not ^(H)believed in the name of the only Son of God.

¹² For ^(A)we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against ^(B)the rulers, against the authorities, against ^(C)the cosmic powers over ^(D)this present darkness, against ^(E)the spiritual forces of evil ^(F)in the heavenly places.

⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but ^(A)to serve, and ^(B)to give his life as a ransom for ^(C)many.”