Section II.
1 158 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was on this wise: In the time when his mother was given in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 2 160 And Joseph her husband was a just man and did not wish to expose her, and he purposed to put her away secretly. 3 161 But when he thought of this, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, and said unto him, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. 4 163 She shall bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, and he shall save his people from their sins. 5 165 And all this was that the saying from the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled:
6 166 Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
And they shall call his name Immanuel,
which is, being interpreted, With us is our God. 7 167 And when Joseph arose from his sleep, 8 168 he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife; and knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son.
9 169 And in those days there went forth a decree from Augustus Cae sar that all the
10 170 people of his dominion should be enrolled. This first enrolment was while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 11 173 And every man went to be enrolled in his city. 12 174 And Joseph went up also from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to Judaea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem 13 175 (for he was of the house of David and of his tribe), with Mary his betrothed, she being with child, to be enrolled there. 14 176 And while she was there the days for her being delivered were accomplished. 15 177 she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them where they were staying.
16 178 And there were in that region shepherds abiding, keeping their flock in the watch of the night. 17 179 And behold, the angel of God came unto them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them; and they were greatly terrified. 18 180 And the angel said unto them, Be not terrified; for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to the whole world; there is born to you this day a Saviour, 19 181 which is the Lord the Messiah, in the city of David. 20 182 And this is a sign for you: ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger. 21 183 And there appeared with the angels suddenly many heavenly forces praising God and saying,
22 185 Praise be to God in the highest,
And on the earth peace, and good hope to men.
23 186 And when the angels departed from them to heaven, the shepherds spake to one another and said, We will go to Bethlehem and see this word which hath been, as the Lord made known unto us. 24 187 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe laid in a manger. 25 188 And when they saw, they reported the word which was spoken to them about the child. 26 189 And all that heard wondered at the description which the shepherds described to them. 27 191 But Mary kept these sayings and discriminated them in her heart. 28 194 And those shepherds returned, magnifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard, according as it was described unto them.
29 195 And when eight days were fulfilled that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, being that by which he was called by the angel before his conception in the womb.
30 196 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him before the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, 31 197 Every male opening the womb shall be called the holy thing of the Lord), 32 198 and to give a sacrificial victim as it is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of doves or two young pigeons. 33 199 And there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and this man was upright and pious, and expecting the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 34 200 And it had been said unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death till he had seen with his eyes the Messiah of the Lord. 35 202 And this man came by the Spirit to the temple; and at the time when his parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might present for him a sacrifice, 36 203 as it is written in the law, he bare him in his arms and praised God and said,
37 204 Now loosest thou the bonds of thy servant, O Lord, in
peace, According to thy saying;
38 206 For mine eye hath witnessed thy mercy,
39 207 Which thou hast made ready because of the whole world;
40 208 A light for the unveiling of the nations,
And a glory to thy people Israel.
41 210 And Joseph and his mother were marvelling at the things which were being said concerning him. 42 211 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, he is set for the overthrow and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign of contention; 43 212 and a spear shall pierce through thine own soul; that the thoughts of the
44 215 hearts of many may be revealed. And Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, was also advanced in years (and she dwelt with her husband seven years from her virginity, 45 216 and she remained a widow about eighty-four years); and she left not the temple, and served night and day with fasting and prayer. 46 217 And she also rose in that hour and thanked the Lord, and she spake of him with every one who was expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem. 47 218 when they had accomplished everything according to what is in the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to Nazareth their city.