Chapter 2

The Visit of the Magi

1 Now after Jesus was aborn in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of bHerod the king, 1magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

2 “Where is He who has been born aKing of the Jews? For we saw bHis star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the 1Messiah was to be born.

5 They said to him, “aIn Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written 1by the prophet:

6 ‘aAnd you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;

For out of you shall come forth a Ruler

Who will bshepherd My people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them 1the exact time athe star appeared.

8 And 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.”

9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with aMary His mother; and they 1fell to the ground and bworshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 And having been awarned by God bin a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

The Flight to Egypt

13 Now when they had gone, behold, an aangel of the Lord * bappeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”

14 So 1Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.

15 He 1remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “aOut of Egypt I called bMy Son.”

Herod Slaughters Babies

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by athe magi, he became very enraged, and sent and bslew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.

17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

18 “aA 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.”

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord * aappeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,

20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”

21 So 1Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being awarned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,

23 and came and lived in a city called aNazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a bNazarene.”