1 THE GOOD TIDINGS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW. THE Book of the Birth of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and 3 Jacob begat Judah and his brethren; and Judah begat Pharez and Zarah by his wife Thamar; and Pharez begat Esrom; and 4 Esrom begat Aram; and Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; 5 Naasson begat Salmon; and and Salmon begat Booz by his wife Rachab; and 6 Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the king; and 7 David the king begat Solomon by the [wife] of Uriah; and Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and 8 Abia begat Asa; and 11 Amon begat Josiah; and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of 12 the carrying away to Babylon; and after the carrying away to Babylon Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. Therefore all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the carrying away to Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. 16 17 And the birth of Jesus Christ was thus. For when 18 his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the holy spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a just man, and 19 not wishing to make her an example, was planning to put her away privately. But while he was thinking of these 20 things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying; Joseph, son of David, fear not to 'take Mary thy wife; for what is conceived in her is of 'the holy spirit; and she will bring forth a son, and thou 21 'shalt call his name Jesus; for he will save his people 'from their sins.' Now all this was done so that it 22 might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying; Behold, the virgin will be with child, 23 and will bring forth a son, and they will call his name Emmanuel, which is, when interpreted, God with us. Then 24 Joseph being raised from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord bid him; and took his wife, and knew her not 25 till she brought forth her first-born son; and he called his name Jesus. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magians [or wise 1 2 men] from the east came to Jerusalem, saying; 'Where 'is the new-born king of the Jews? for we have seen his 3 star in its rising, and are come to worship him.' And when Herod the king heard, he was troubled, and all 4 Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the high priests and scribes of the people, he asked of them, 5 where the Christ should be born. And they said to him; 'In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written through 6 'the prophet; And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art 'not the least among the princes of Judah; for out of thee 'will come a governor who will rule my people Israel.' 7 Then Herod, having privately called the Magians, learnt 8 of them the time of the star's appearing, and he sent them to Bethlehem and said; Go, and search carefully ' about the child; and when ye have found, tell me, that 9 'I also may come and worship him.' And when they had heard the king, they went; and behold, the star, which they saw in its rising, went before them, till it 10 came and stood over where the child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with a very great joy. 11 And when they came into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him; and they opened their treasures, and laid before him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed into their own country by another way. 12 13 14 And when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying; 'Arise, ' and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I tell thee; for Herod is about to 'seek the child to kill him.' And he arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt. 15 And he was there until the death of Herod; so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying; Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, seeing that he was mocked by the Magians, was very wroth; and he sent forth and slew all the children in Bethlehem, and in all its neighbourhood, from two years old and under, according to the time that he 17 had learnt from the Magians. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying; A voice was 18 heard in Rama, wailing and weeping and great mourning ; Rachael weeping for her children, and would not be comforted because they are not. But when Herod was dead, 19 behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying; 'Arise, and take the child and 20 'his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are 'dead who sought the child's life.' And he arose, and 21 took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning 22 over Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; and being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee. And he came, and dwelt in a 23 city called Nazareth; so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets; He will be called a Nazarite. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Now in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the desert of Judea, and saying; 'Repent ye, 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 desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And this John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts, and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country round the Jordan. And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them; 'O offspring of vipers, who 'warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring 8 'forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance, and think not to say to yourselves, We have Abraham for a father; 'for I say unto you, that God is able out of these stones 'to raise up children unto Abraham. And even now the 10 axe is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree, that beareth not good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into 'the fire. I indeed baptize you in water unto repent- 11 but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, 'whose shoes I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize ance; 9 12 'you in holy spirit and fire. His fan is in his hand, and 'he will cleanse his floor, and gather his wheat into the granary, but will burn up the chaff with fire unquench'able.' 13 15 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto 14 John, to be baptized by him. But John forbad him, saying; I have need to be baptized by thee; and comest thou to me?' And Jesus answering said unto him; 'Suffer it now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all 16 'righteousness.' Then he suffereth him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and 17 coming upon him. And behold, a voice from heaven, 5 saying; "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well 1 'pleased.' Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the 2 desert to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting 8 forty days and forty nights he was at last hungry. And the tempter came to him, and said; 'If thou be a son of 4 God, command that these stones be made loaves.' But he answered and said; 'It is written; Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that cometh out of the mouth of God.' Then the devil taketh him into the holy city, and setteth him on the pinnacle of the temple; 6 and saith unto him; If thou be a son of God, cast thy'self down; for it is written; He will give his angels charge of thee; and, They will bear thee upon their 7 'hands, lest thou strike thy foot against a stone.' Jesus said unto him; 'Again it is written; Thou shalt not try 8 'the Lord thy God.' Again the devil taketh him on to a very high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms 9 of the world, and their glory; and saith unto him; 'All 'these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship 10 'me.' Then saith Jesus unto him; 'Get thee behind 'me, Satan; for it is written; Thou shalt worship the 11 Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.' Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came up and ministered unto him. 12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was delivered 13 up, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he |