The Three Wise Men’s Visit

1. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod, the king, three wise men, came from the east 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 Herod, the king, heard this, he was disturbed and troubled, and the whole of Jerusalem with him.

4. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where Christ should be born.

5. In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written.

6. ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come to a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’

7. Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them when the star first appeared.

8. He told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, let me know. I also want to go and worship him.”

9. The wise men listened to the king’s words and left. The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over where the child was.

10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy.

11. Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary; they prostrated and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12. Later, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they went back home by another road.

The Flight to Egypt

13. And after they had gone away, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph, saying: “Rise, and take the boy and his mother, and flee into Egypt. And remain there until I tell you. For it will happen that Herod will seek the boy to destroy him.”

14. So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.

15. He stayed there until Herod died so that what the Lord had said through the prophet would come true: “I called my son out of Egypt.”

The Massacre of Infants

16. When Herod realized that the wise men had tricked him, he became outraged. So he sent soldiers to kill all the men and children in Bethlehem and the towns around it who were younger than two years old, according to the time he had carefully asked the wise men.

17. This way, these words that God’s prophet Jeremiah spoke long ago became true.

18. “A voice was heard in Ramah—bitter crying and great sadness. Rachel cries for her children and cannot be comforted because her children are gone.” Jeremiah 31:15

The Return from Egypt and The Nazareth home.

19. But when Herod died, an angel from God came to Joseph in a dream in Egypt and told him.

20. “Get up! Take the child and his mother back to Israel because those trying to kill the child are dead.

21. So Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and returned to Israel.

22. But when Joseph heard that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as king of Judea, he was afraid to go there. He was given more instructions in a dream, so he went to the province of Galilee.

23. And made his home in a city called Nazareth. So, what the prophets had said came true: “He will be called a Nazarene.”