Beginning
Mary Gives Birth In Bethlehem, Where She And Joseph Went Because of The Roman Census
2 Now it came about during those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus[a] that all the world should be registered[b]. 2 This first[c] registration took place while Quirinius was being-governor of Syria. 3 And they were all going to register-themselves[d]— each one to his own city[e]. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem— because of his being from the house and family of David— 5 so as to register himself with Mary, the one having been promised-in-marriage to him, being pregnant. 6 And it came about during their being there that the days were fulfilled that she might give-birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son. And she wrapped Him in swaddling-cloths[f], and laid Him in a manger[g], because there was not a place for them in the inn.
Angels Announce The Birth of The Savior To Shepherds In The Field
8 And shepherds were in the same region, living-in-the-fields and watching over their flock for watches of the night. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shined around them, and they feared a great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Do not be fearing. For behold— I am announcing-as-good-news to you a great joy which will be for all the people, 11 because[h] a Savior was born for you today in the city of David, Who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby having been wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger”. 13 And suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host was with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest [heavens]. And peace on earth among people of [i] [His] good-will[j]”. 15 And it came about that when the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing having taken place which the Lord made-known to us”. 16 And they came, having hurried, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 And having seen Him, they made-known about the thing having been spoken to them about this Child. 18 And all the ones having heard it marveled about the things having been spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary was preserving[k] all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything which they heard and saw, just as it was spoken to them.
His Name Is Called Jesus
21 And when eight days were fulfilled that they might circumcise Him, His name was indeed called Jesus— the name having been named by the angel before[l] He was conceived in the womb.
The Parents Bring Jesus To The Temple To Redeem Him Before The Lord
22 And when the days of their purification according to the Law of Moses were fulfilled[m], they brought Him up to Jerusalem so as to present Him to the Lord 23 just as it has been written in the Law of the Lord [in Ex 13:2], that “every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”; 24 and that she might give a sacrifice in accordance with the thing having been said in the Law of the Lord [in Lev 12:8]: “a pair of turtledoves or two young ones of pigeons”.
Simeon Recognizes The Child As The Messiah, But a Sword Will Pierce Mary’s Soul
25 And behold— a man was in Jerusalem for whom the name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and reverent[n], waiting-for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he would see the Christ of the Lord. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And at the parents bringing-in the child Jesus that they might do for Him according to the thing[o] having become-a-custom from the Law, 28 he also took Him into his arms. And he blessed God, and said, 29 “Now You are releasing Your slave in peace in accordance with Your word, Master, 30 because my eyes saw Your salvation 31 which You prepared in the presence of all the peoples— 32 the light for the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel”. 33 And His father and mother were marveling at the things being spoken about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold— this One is appointed[p] for[q] the falling and rising of many in Israel, and for[r] a sign being spoken-against[s]— 35 and indeed a sword will pierce the soul of you yourself— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed”.
Anna The Prophet Thanks God For the Child
36 And there was Anna— a prophet, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. This one was advanced in her many days, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and herself being a widow up-to[t] eighty four years, who was not departing from the temple, serving[u] night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 And having come-upon them at the very hour, she was returning-thanks to God, and was speaking about Him to all the ones waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Family Returns To Nazareth In Galilee
39 And when they finished all the things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee— to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child was growing and becoming strong, while being filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was upon Him.
In Jerusalem At Age Twelve, Jesus Stays Behind When His Parents Leave For Home
41 And His parents were going to Jerusalem yearly for the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve years old— they going up in accordance with the custom of the Feast, 43 and having completed the days— during their returning, the boy Jesus stayed-behind in Jerusalem. And His parents did not know it, 44 but having thought that He was in the caravan[v], they went a day’s journey. And they were searching-for Him among the relatives and the acquaintances. 45 And not having found Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching-for Him.
Jesus Is Found In The Temple Listening To And Questioning The Teachers
46 And it came about after three days that they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening-to them and questioning them. 47 And all the ones listening-to Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. 48 And having seen Him, they were astounded. And His mother said to Him, “Child, why did you do[w] us like this? Behold— Your father and I were looking-for You, while suffering-pain”. 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking-for Me? Did you not know that I must be in[x] the things of My[y] Father? 50 And they did not understand the thing which He spoke to them. 51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was being subject to them. And His mother was keeping all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus was advancing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.
In The Fifteenth Year of Tiberius, John Is Sent Out By God
3 Now in the fifteenth[z] year of the government of Tiberius[aa] Caesar— Pontius Pilate[ab] being-governor of Judea, and Herod[ac] being-tetrarch[ad] of Galilee, and Philip[ae] his brother being tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in-the-time-of the high priest Annas and Caiaphas— the word of God came to[af] John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.
John Proclaims a Baptism of Repentance, In Fulfillment of Isaiah
3 And he went into all the surrounding-region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it has been written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet [in Isa 40:3-5], “A voice of one shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; be making His paths straight. 5 Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be made-low. And the crooked paths will become straight, and the rough will become smooth paths. 6 And all flesh will see the salvation of God’”. 7 Therefore he was saying to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers— who showed[ag] you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance. And do not begin to say within[ah] yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’. For I say to you that God is able to raise-up children for Abraham from these stones! 9 And indeed the axe is already lying[ai] at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”.
The People Ask John What They Should Do To Produce Fruit Worthy of Repentance
10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “What then should we do?” 11 And having responded, he was saying to them, “Let the one having two tunics[aj] give to the one not having, and let the one having food be doing likewise”. 12 And tax collectors also came to be baptized. And they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 And the one said to them, “Be collecting nothing more than the amount having been commanded”. 14 And ones serving-as-soldiers also were questioning him, saying, “And us, what should we do?” And he said to them, “Do not violently-extort[ak] anyone, nor extort-with-false-charges. And be content with your wages[al]”.
John Says One More Powerful Is Coming, Who Will Baptize With The Spirit And Fire
15 And while the populace was waiting-in-expectation and all were pondering in their hearts about John— if perhaps he might be the Christ— 16 John responded, saying to everyone, “I am baptizing you with[am] water, but the One more powerful than me is coming, of Whom I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with[an] the Holy Spirit and fire[ao]— 17 Whose winnowing-tool is in His hand so as to clean-out[ap] His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with an inextinguishable fire”. 18 So indeed, while also exhorting many other things, he was announcing-good-news-to the people.
Herod Locked Up John In Prison
19 But Herod the tetrarch— while being rebuked[aq] by him concerning Herodias[ar], the wife of his brother, and concerning all the evil things which Herod did— 20 also added this to everything: he also locked-up John in prison.
Jesus Was Baptized When All The People Were Baptized
21 And it came about when[as] all the people were baptized, Jesus also having been baptized and praying, that the heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily form like[at] a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son. With You I was[au] well-pleased”.
At About Age Thirty, Jesus Begins His Ministry
23 And Jesus Himself was, [when] beginning His ministry, about thirty years old, being a son, as it was being supposed, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Aminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing