THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

 

Matthew Chapter 2

1 ¶ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

2 Asking, Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him.

3 When King Herod heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they told him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for it is written by the prophet,

6 And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of you will come a Governor, who will rule my people Israel.

7 Then after Herod had privately called the wise men, he diligently questioned them as to what time the star appeared.

8 And sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search carefully for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I may go and worship him also.

9 ¶ After they had heard the king, they left; and, lo, the star, that they had seen in the east, went before them, until it stopped over the place where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

11 And after they had entered the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they opened their treasures, they presented him with gifts of; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And having been warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another route.

13 ¶ And after they had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell you: for Herod will search for the young child to destroy him.

14 And having awakened, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed for Egypt:

15 And was there until the death of Herod: thus fulfilling what was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, who said, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 ¶ Then, when he realized that the wise men had fooled him, Herod was extremely angry, and sent men who killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem, and its vicinity, who were two years old and under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men.

17 Thus fulfilling what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, who said,

18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and bitter wailing, Rachel crying for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.

19 ¶ But when Herod was dead, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 Saying, Get up, and take the young child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel: for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

22 But after hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there: and having been warned by God in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee:

23 And having arrived there he settled in a city called Nazareth: that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, for he shall be called a Nazarene.