Matthew 2

The Visit of the Magi

1Now after Jesus was 1born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of 2Herod the king, behold, 3magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2“Where is He who has been born 4King of the Jews? For we saw 5His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the 6Messiah was to be born. 5They said to him, “7In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written 8by 9the prophet:6‘10And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will 11shepherd My people Israel.’”

7Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact 12time 13the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with 14His mother Mary; and they fell down and 1516worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And after being 17warned by God 18in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

The Escape to Egypt

13Now when they had gone, behold, an 19angel of the Lord 20appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”

14So 21Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15He 22stayed there until the death of Herod; this happened so that what had been spoken by the Lord through 23the prophet would be fulfilled: “24Out of Egypt I called 25My Son.”

Herod Slaughters Babies

16Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by 26the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and 27killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity 28who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:18“29A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”

19But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord 30appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20“Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” 21So 31Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being 32warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23and came and settled in a city called 33Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a 34Nazarene.”