David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; and from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

4 The birth of Christ was thus. His mother Mary having been espoused to Joseph, before they came together, was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. But Joseph her husband being a righteous man, and not wishing to make her an example, was designing to put her away privately. But while he was thinking of these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit, and she shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.

5 But all this was done, that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying; Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel; which is interpreted, God is with us. And when Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and took his wife, and knew her not till she bore a son, and he called his name Jesus.

CHAPTER II.

THE INFANCY OF CHRIST.

1 AND Jesus being born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold Magi came from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is the king of the Jews born? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him. And Herod the king hearing this was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born. And they said to him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet; And you Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the governors of Judah, for out of you shall come a governor who shall rule my people Israel.

2 Then Herod, calling the Magi secretly, asked them the precise time when the star appeared; and sending them to Bethlehem, said, Go and inquire diligently for the young child, and when you have found him, tell me, that I also may come and worship him.

And hearing the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they saw in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with great joy; and coming into the house they saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they presented him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being divinely instructed in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their country another way.

3 And when they had departed, behold, an 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 till I tell you; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy it. And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and fled into Egypt, and was there till the death of Herod; that the word might be fulfilled, which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying; Out of Egypt have I called my son.

4 Then Herod seeing that he was despised by the Magi, was exceedingly angry, and sent and destroyed all the children in Bethlehem, and in all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the precise time which he had learned of the Magi. Thus was fulfilled the word spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted because they were not.

5 And when Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead that sought the young child's life. And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and went into the land of Israel. But hearing that Archelaus reigned over Judea in the place of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there; but being divinely instructed in a dream, he departed into the parts of Galilee, and went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that the word spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazoraean.

CHAPTER III.

CHRIST'S BAPTISM AND TEMPTATION.

1 AND in those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, Change your minds, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying; A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And this John had his clothes of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loin, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region about the Jordan, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

2 And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come for the baptism, he said to them; Offspring of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit, therefore, worthy of a change of mind; and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for a father; for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham; and already the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree, therefore, which bears not good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water to a change of mind; but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not fit to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and fire; whose winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing floor, and gather his wheat into the store-house; but the chaff he will burn with an inextinguishable fire.

3 Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But he refused him, saying, I have need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered and said to him, Suffer me now; for thus it becomes us to complete all righteousness. Then he suffered him; and Jesus being baptized went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descend like a dove and come upon him. And behold, a voice from the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil. And having fasted forty days and forty

nights, he was afterwards hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread. And he answered and said; It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. Then the devil took him into the holy city, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you, and they shall take you up on their hands, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him, Again it is written, You shall not try the Lord your God. Again the devil took him away on a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, and said to him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Get behind You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Then the devil left him; and behold angels came and waited on him.

me Satan; for it is written,

CHAPTER IV.

CHRIST COMMENCING HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY.

1 AND when he heard that John was delivered up, he departed to Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he came and lived at Capernaum on the lake, in the bounds of Zebulon and Naphtali, that the word might be fulfilled, spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying; Land of Zebulon and Naphtali, by the way of the lake, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shade of death has light arisen. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Change your minds; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

2 And walking by the lake of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishermen of men. And they left their nets, immediately, and followed him. And going forward thence, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending

their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

3 And he went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. And his fame went out into all Syria; and they brought him all that were ill, afflicted with various diseases and torments, and demoniacs, and lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them; and great multitudes followed him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

CHAPTER V.

CHRIST'S SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

1 AND seeing the multitudes, he went on the mountain and sat down; and his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying; Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are the persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say every evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and exult, for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were

before you.

2 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its strength, with what shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing more, except being cast out to be trodden upon by men. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a modius [1.916 gallon measure], but on a candlestick, and it shines to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your father in heaven. Think not that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets; I