It is claimed by many critics that the first three Gospels were copied either from each other or from some common source. The reader, when he has examined the following pages, will see for himself on what grounds the claim is made. But, be that as it may, there is no evidence that Matthew or Luke had access to the same source of information for anything they said in their two opening chapters. There is not a phrase or sentence in either of them that has the slightest appearance of having been copied from anything previously in existence and common to them. On the other hand, there are many contradictions seeming to point to the conclusion that their sources of information were so widely different as to cast a suspicion upon the authenticity of one story or the other: and the authenticity of the first two chapters of both Matthew and Luke has been questioned, as well as the section of Luke above referred to: chapter 9 verse 51 to chap ter 18 verse 14. There is another noticeable difference, in each of these books, between the accounts in the two opening chapters and those of the chapters following; particularly is it true of Luke; and that is a disposition to be more elaborate in detail. There is nothing in any other part of the synoptic Gospels so marked in this respect as Luke's story of the birth of Jesus, and the circumstances surrounding his meeting, in his infancy, with Simeon, and Anna the prophetess. Luke does not dwell upon any other incident in the life of Jesus, not even upon the story of the crucifixion, as he does upon these events. Pro Other noteworthy peculiarities of the chapters are apparent. phetic utterances and quotations are conspicuous for their number and length. And there are some evidences that they were not originally written in Greek. The four pages following (3, 4, 5 and 6, containing the first two chapters of Matthew and the first two of Luke) are not given here with any special purpose in view. This book contains the three synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, complete. The main purpose in giving them is that no portions of the books be omitted. The reader will do well to turn on to page 7 and let these chapters go; they have no particular significance at this time. If he becomes interested enough, let him turn back later on and see how different they are from the balance of the books. Let him then ask himself the question, Is it any wonder that critics have attacked their authenticity? 1 17 MATTHEW. THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. The genealogy, ver. 2-16 omitted. See Appendix. So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations: and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her 20 away privily. But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people 22 from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. And they shall call LUKE. 1 FORASMUCH as many have taken in hand to draw up a narra- 1 tive concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the begin- 2 ing were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed 3 good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; that thou mightest know the certainty con- 4 cerning the things wherein thou wast instructed. THERE was in the days of Herod, king of Judæa, a certain 5 priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in 6 all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and 7 they both were now well stricken in years. Now it came to pass while he executed the priest's office before 8 God in the order of his course, according to the custom of the 9 priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord 10 and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense. And there appeared 11 unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the alter of incense. And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, 12 and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear 13 not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice 14 at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, 15 and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And 16 many of the children of Israel shall he turn unto the Lord their God. And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of 17 Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to walk in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him. And Zacharias said 18 unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel answer- 19. ing said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to 20 speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they 21 marvelled while he tarried in the temple. And when he came 22 out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb. And it came to pass, when 23 the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house. And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid 24 herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord done unto me in 25 the days wherein he looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God 26 unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed 27 to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came in unto her, and said, 28 Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee. But 29 she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said 30 unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a 31 son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall 32 be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall his name Imman- | give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign 33 uel; over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall which is, being inter- be no end. And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, 34 preted, God with us. seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said 35 24 And Joseph arose unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power from his sleep, and of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also that which did as the angel of is to be born shall be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, 36 the Lord commanded Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her him, and took unto old age: and this is the sixth month with her that was called 25 him his wife; and barren. For no word from God shall be void of power. 37 knew her not till she And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto 38 had brought forth a me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. son: and he called his name JESUS. 2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came 2 to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship 3 him. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with 4 him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethle- Art in no wise least Which shall be 7 Then Herod privily called the wise men, and learned of them carefully what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come 9 and worship him. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the 10 young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country 39 with haste, into a city of Judah; and entered into the house of 40 Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, when 41 Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost; and she 42 lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence 43 is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, 44 the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that 45 believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 46 47 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his hand- 48 maiden: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; 49 And his mercy is unto generations and generations 50 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree. The hungry he hath filled with good things; He hath holpen Israel his servant, (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever. 52 53 54 55 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned 56 unto her house. Now Elisabeth's time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; 57 and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her kins- 58 folk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass on the eighth 59 day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother 60 answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And 61 they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, what he would 62 have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, 63 saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his 64 mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, blessing God. And fear eame on all that dwelt round 65 about them and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. And all that heard them laid 66 them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was fiilled with the Holy Ghost, and 67 prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; 68 For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people. 69 In the house of his servant David (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which 70 have been since the world began), Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that 71 2 with exceeding great 11 joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and 12 myrrh. And being 13 warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there un 1 To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand 74 of our enemies Should serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him all our days, 75 For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins, Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us, 77 78 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow 79 of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the 80 deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel. Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from 2 Cæsar Agustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was 2 the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. And 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, 5 who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to 6 pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she 7 til I tell thee: for Her-wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, od will seek the young because there was no room for them in the inn. child to destroy him. 14 And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed 15 into Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call 16 my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully learned of the 17 wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the 8 field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel 9 of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto 10 them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this 11 day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And 12 this is the sign unto you; Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the 13 angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, 14 And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into 15 heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and 16 found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying 17 which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it 18 wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her 19 heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God 20 for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name 21 was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of their purification according to the law of 22 Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male 23 that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to 24 offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. And behold, 25 there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been re- 26 vealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit 27 into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law, then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, Now lettest thou thy servant depart, O Lord, According to thy word, in peace; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 28 29 30 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; 31 32 And the glory of thy people Israel. And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which 33 2 the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of 22 Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Gal23 ilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, that he should be called Nazarene. a 2 were spoken concerning him; and Simeon blessed them, and said 34 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and 40 the grace of God was upon him. And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the 41 passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up after 42 the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as 43 they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, 44 they went a day's journey; and they sought for him amoung their kinsfolk and acquaintance: and when they found him not, they 45 returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. And it came to pass, after 46 three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions: and all 47 that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him, they were astonished: and his mother said 48 unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is 49 it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be in my father's house? And they understood not the saving which he spake unto 50 them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and 51 he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with 52 God and men. |