The Birth of Jesus
(Matthew 1:18–25)
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. 1 Luk 3:1Mat 24:14Act 25:21Mat 22:17Php 4:22Act 11:28Rom 1:8Act 25:11 This was the first census to take place while 2Quirinius was governor of Syria. Luk 3:1Act 13:7Act 18:12Act 23:26Act 26:30Act 5:37Mat 4:24 And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. Mic 5:2Jhn 7:421Sa 16:1Luk 1:26-27Mat 2:23Luk 4:16Rut 4:171Sa 20:6 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child. Mat 1:18-19Deu 22:22-27
While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born. Psa 33:11Mic 5:2Rev 12:1-5Pro 19:21Luk 1:57 And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Gal 4:42Co 8:9Isa 53:2-3Jhn 1:14Luk 2:11-12Mat 1:25Mat 8:20Isa 7:14
The Shepherds and the Angels
And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Gen 31:39-40Psa 78:70-711Sa 17:34-35Jhn 10:8-12Ezk 34:8Exo 3:1-2 Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Isa 60:12Co 3:181Ki 8:11Act 27:23Rev 18:1Act 26:13-14Act 22:6-9Act 5:19 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Isa 40:9Isa 61:1Isa 52:7Gen 12:3Mat 28:18Luk 1:30Mat 14:27Act 13:32 Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord! Isa 9:6Mat 1:21Act 2:36Tit 3:4-7Mat 16:161Jn 5:1Jhn 4:42Luk 1:43 And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Isa 7:14Isa 53:1-2Isa 7:11Psa 22:62Ki 19:291Sa 10:2-71Sa 2:342Ki 20:8
And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: Rev 5:11Psa 103:20-21Psa 148:21Ki 22:19Heb 1:14Luk 15:10Dan 7:10Job 38:7
“Glory to God in the highest, Rom 5:1Luk 19:38Luk 1:79Col 1:20Isa 9:6-7Heb 13:20-21Psa 85:9-12Rev 5:13
and on earth peace to men
on whom His favor rests!”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 1Pe 3:22Mat 2:1-2Exo 3:3Luk 24:51Mat 2:9-112Ki 2:12Ki 2:11Jhn 20:1-10
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. Luk 19:32Luk 2:12Luk 2:7Luk 22:13Luk 1:39Ecc 9:10 After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. Luk 8:39Psa 66:16Luk 2:38Psa 71:17-18Mal 3:16Psa 16:9-10Jhn 1:41-46Jhn 4:28-29 And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luk 1:65-66Luk 4:36Isa 8:18Luk 2:33Luk 2:47Luk 5:9-10 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luk 2:51Luk 1:66Pro 4:41Sa 21:12Gen 37:11Hos 14:9Luk 9:43-44
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them. Psa 106:48Act 11:181Ch 29:10-12Isa 29:19Mat 9:8Psa 72:17-19Act 2:46-47Luk 18:43
Jesus Presented at the Temple
When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived. Gen 17:12Lev 12:3Luk 1:31Luk 1:59Gal 4:4-5Mat 1:21Mat 3:15Php 2:8
And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord Lev 12:1-8 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord” 3), Exo 13:2Exo 22:29Num 3:13Exo 34:19Num 18:15Num 8:16-17Exo 13:12-15 and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 4 Lev 12:6-8Lev 12:22Co 8:9
The Prophecy of Simeon
Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Isa 25:9Luk 1:6Luk 2:38Tit 2:11-14Mrk 15:43Luk 1:412Pe 1:21Gen 6:9 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Jhn 8:51Heb 11:5Luk 9:27Act 10:38Jhn 20:31Psa 25:14Act 2:36Psa 89:48-49 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. 5 And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law, Luk 2:22Act 10:19Luk 2:41Luk 2:48Luk 2:51Mat 4:1Act 11:12Act 16:7 Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: Luk 1:64Luk 2:13-14Luk 2:20Mrk 9:36Luk 1:46Luk 1:68Mrk 10:16Psa 105:1-3
“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, Rev 14:13Gen 15:15Gen 46:30Php 1:23Isa 57:1-2Luk 2:26Psa 37:37
You now dismiss Your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Isa 49:6Gen 49:18Isa 52:10Luk 2:10-11Luk 3:62Sa 23:1-5Act 4:10-12
which You have prepared in the sight of all people, Isa 42:1-4Isa 62:1-2Psa 98:2-3Isa 42:10-12Isa 45:21-25Psa 96:10-13Psa 97:6-8Psa 96:1-3
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, Isa 60:1-3Isa 49:6Act 26:23Act 13:47-48Isa 42:6-7Isa 9:2Rev 21:23Act 28:28
and for glory to Your people Israel.”
The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. Isa 8:18Luk 1:65-66Luk 2:48 Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: 1Co 1:231Pe 2:7-8Isa 8:14-15Mat 21:442Co 2:15-16Act 9:1-20Hos 14:91Pe 4:14
“Behold, this Child is appointed to cause
the rise and fall of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed— 1Co 11:19Deu 8:2Act 8:21-23Jdg 5:15-16Jhn 15:22-24Jhn 19:25Luk 16:14-15Mat 12:24-35
and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”
The Prophecy of Anna
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years, Psa 92:14Exo 15:20Gen 30:13Act 2:18Act 21:9Jdg 4:41Co 12:12Ki 22:14 and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. 6 She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 1Ti 5:5Psa 23:6Act 14:23Act 13:3Psa 27:4Act 26:7Exo 38:8Luk 5:33
Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luk 2:252Co 9:15Luk 1:68Luk 24:21Mrk 15:43Eph 1:3Luk 1:46-56Luk 2:28-32
The Return to Nazareth
(Matthew 2:19–23)
When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Luk 2:4Deu 12:32Gal 4:4-5Mat 3:15Luk 2:21-24Luk 2:51Mat 2:22-23Luk 1:6
And the Child grew and became strong. 7 He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. Luk 2:52Luk 1:80Isa 11:1-5Jhn 1:141Sa 2:261Sa 3:19Isa 53:1-2Luk 2:47
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Deu 12:18Deu 16:1-8Exo 12:14Exo 23:14-17Exo 34:23Lev 23:5Num 28:161Sa 1:21 And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.
When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. 2Ch 25:172Ch 30:21-23Exo 12:15 Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. Isa 2:3Psa 122:1-4Psa 42:4
When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Isa 49:1-2Luk 5:17Act 5:34Isa 50:4Mat 12:40Mat 27:63-641Ki 12:51Ki 12:12 And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. Mat 7:28Luk 4:32Psa 119:99Jhn 7:15Jhn 7:46Luk 4:22Mrk 1:22
When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” Luk 2:49Mat 12:46Luk 3:23Luk 4:22
“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house 8?” Jhn 6:38Jhn 8:29Mal 3:1Psa 40:8Jhn 4:34Luk 2:48Jhn 5:17Mat 21:12 But they did not understand the statement He was making to them. Luk 18:34Luk 9:45Mrk 9:32
Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. Luk 2:19Dan 7:28Gen 37:11Mrk 6:31Pe 2:21Eph 5:21Eph 6:1-2Mat 3:15
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luk 2:40Pro 3:3-41Sa 2:26Rom 14:18Luk 1:80Act 7:9-10