From Abraham to David

Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,

Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah,

and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

The Nativity of the Messiah

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.

So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”

When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.

The Flight into Egypt

After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.

saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, because those who intended to kill the child are dead.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother, and entered the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.

For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

The First Disciples

As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.