The Genealogy of Jesus

(Ruth 4:18-22; Luke 3:23-38)

1The Genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2Abraham was the father of Isaac; Isaac of Jacob; Jacob of Judah and his brothers. 3Judah was the father (by Tamar) 4Ram of Amminadab; Amminadab of Nahshon; Nahshon of Salmon; 5Salmon (by Rahab) 6Jesse of David—the King. David (by Uriah's widow) 7Solomon of Rehoboam; Rehoboam of Abijah; Abijah of Asa; 8Asa of Jehoshaphat; Jehoshaphat of Jehoram; Jehoram of Uzziah; 9Uzziah of Jotham; Jotham of Ahaz; Ahaz of Hezekiah; 10Hezekiah of Manasseh; Manasseh of Amon; Amon of Josiah; 11Josiah of Jeconiah and his brothers at the period of the Removal to Babylon.

12After the Removal to Babylon Jeconiah had a son Shealtiel; Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel; 13Zerubbabel of Abiud; Abiud of Eliakim; Eliakim of Azor; 14Azor of Zadok; Zadok of Achim; Achim of Eliud; 15Eliud of Eleazar; Eleazar of Matthan; Matthan of Jacob; 16and Jacob of Joseph the husband of Mary, who was the mother of JESUS who is called CHRIST.

17There are therefore, in all, fourteen generations from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Removal to Babylon; and fourteen from the Removal to Babylon to the Christ.

The Birth of Jesus

(Isaiah 7:10-16; Micah 5:1-6; Luke 2:1-7)

18The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19But Joseph her husband, being a kind-hearted man and unwilling publicly to disgrace her, had determined to release her privately from the betrothal. 20But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins." 22All this took place in fulfilment of what the Lord had spoken through the Prophet, 23"Mark! The maiden will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call His name Immanuel" —a word which signifies 'God with us'. 24When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and brought home his wife, 25but did not live with her until she had given birth to a son. The child's name he called JESUS.