The
Birth of Jesus in the Words of the Gospels
The
Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, 2.1-20:
In
those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all
the world should be registered. This was the first registration
and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All
went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went
from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city
of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from
the house and family of David. He went to be registered with
Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her
child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped
him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over
their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel
said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great
joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a
child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he
favours!'
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place,
which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary
and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made
known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered
them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The
Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew,
2.1-12:
In
the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem
of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking,
'Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For
we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay
him homage.' When King Herod heard this, he was frightened,
and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the
chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them
where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, 'In Bethlehem
of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: "And
you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least
among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel."'
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact
time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go
and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me
word so that I may also go and pay him homage.' When they had heard the king,
they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at
its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they
saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering
the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and
paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts
of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to
return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Scripture
quotations from the New
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, © 1989.
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