The Visit of the Magi

1. And after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.
2. Saying, “Where is the one born king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and we have come to worship him.”
3. And hearing this, King Herod was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. And gathering all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired from them where the Christ was to be born.
5. And they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet.”
6. “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
7. Then Herod secretly called the magi and learned from them exactly the time the star appeared.
8. And sending them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search carefully for the child; and when you have found him, report to me, so that I also may go and worship him.”
9. And after hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star which they saw in the east went before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was.
10. And seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11. And coming into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they worshiped him; and opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew into their own country by another way.

Flight into Egypt

13. And when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to seek the child to destroy him.”
14. And rising, he took the child and his mother by night and withdrew into Egypt.
15. And he remained there until the death of Herod, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

The Massacre of the Infants

16. Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the magi, became exceedingly enraged, and sending out, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its districts from two years old and under, according to the time which he had learned exactly from the magi.
17. Then was fulfilled what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying.
18. “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Return to Nazareth

19. And when Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appears in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
20. Saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those seeking the child’s life have died.”
21. And rising, he took the child and his mother and entered into the land of Israel.
22. But hearing that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; and having been warned in a dream, he withdrew into the regions of Galilee.
23. And coming, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”