The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.

“This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

“He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever.”

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word;

and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

The Temptation of Jesus

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness

for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.

And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here;