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Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When his mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together in sexual union, she was found to be pregnant (through the power of the Holy Spirit). And her promised husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (or divorce) her quietly and secretly. But as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is (from or out of) the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus (in Hebrew means Savior), for He will save His people form their sins (that is, prevent their failing and missing the true end and scope of life which is God.) And this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet, Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which means, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14). Then Joseph being aroused from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, (he took her to his side as ) his wife, but he had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her first-born Son, and he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1: 18-25 |
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In those days it occurred that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman Empire should be registered. This was the first enrollment and it was made when Quirinius was govenor of Syria. And all the people were going to be registered, each to his own city or town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the town of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his wife, who was about to become a mother. And while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary's delivery. Luke 2: 1-5 |
