18

JESUS CARRIED INTO EGYPT.

the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And when they were departed, behold, the 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 until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called 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 children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the

JESUS BROUGHT TO NAZARETH.

time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. 'And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

19

9Luke ii.40-52

20

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE WITH THE DOCTORS.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, "How is it that ye sought me ? wist ye "not that I must be about my Father's "business?* And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject.

* Marks of quotation are affixed only to the words spoken by Jesus.

MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

21

10 And the child (John) grew, and 10Luke i. 80. waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto

Israel. "Now in the fifteenth year of "Luke iii. 1-3. the reign of Tiberias Cæsar, (Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituræa and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests,) the

word of God came unto John the Bap- 12Matt, iii. 1. tist, "the son of Zacharias, in the wil

derness of Judæa.

"And he came into all the country

about Jordan, and did baptize in the Mark i. 4. wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom "Matt. iii. 2. of heaven is at hand. The beginning 15Mark i. 1, 2. of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before

thee. 16For this is he that was spoken 16Matt. iii. 3. of "in the book of the words of Esaias 17Luke iii. 4-6. the prophet, saying, The voice of one

22

18 Mark i. 5.

19Matt. iii. 5.

20 Mark i. 5.

MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

18 And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, 19and all the region round about Jordan; 20 and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 21 Matt. iii. 4. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

22 Matt. iii. 7.

22 But when he saw many of the pharisees and sadducees come to his bap23Lukeiii.7-16 tism; 23then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth