The Original Christmas Story
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the
city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man
whose name was Joseph, of the House of David. The virgin's name
was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice,
highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among
women!" But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying,
and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel
said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor
with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring
forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great,
and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will
give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over
the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no
end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know
a man?"
And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit will
come upon you , and the power of the Highest will overshadow
you; therefore, also, the Holy One who is to be born will be
called the Son of God."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to
me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After his mother Mary
was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found
with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just
man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to
put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things,
behold, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,
"Joseph, Son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your
wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And
she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name, Jesus,
for He will save His people from their sins."
So this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
Prophet, saying: "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and bear a
Son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which is translated,
God with us."
Then Joseph being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord
commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till
she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And called His name,
Jesus.
And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from
Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census
first took place while Quirnius was governing Syria. So all went to
be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up out of
Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David,
which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and of the
lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,
who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days
were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her
firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him
in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea on the days of
Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
saying, "Where is He who had been born the King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him. And when he had gathered together all the chief priests
and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the
Christ was to be born. So the said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it is written by the Prophet: "But you, Bethlehem, in the
land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for
out of shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel."
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined
from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to
Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child,
and when you have found him, bring back word to me, the I may
come and worship Him also."
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold the star which
they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood
over where the young Child was. When they saw the star they
rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into
the manger, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and
fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their
treasures, the presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Then being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return
to Herod, the departed for the own country another way.
Now there were in the country, shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, the angel of
the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do
not be afraid, for behold, I bring great tidings of great joy which will
be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to
you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a
manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven,
that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and
see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made
known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and
Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger. Now when they had seen
Him, the made widely known the saying which was told to them
concerning the Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those
things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept these
things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had
heard and seen as it was told them.
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,
And the government shall be upon His shoulders.
And His name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty
God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no
end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
to order it and establish it with judgment and justice,
from that time forward, even forever."
