This is the book of the generations of Jesus Christ, son of David and son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac and Isaac begot Jacob and Jacob begot Judas and his brothers. Judas was the father of Phares and Zara. Thamar was their mother. Phares was the father of Esrom and Esrom the father of Aram. Aram fathered Aminadab who in turn fathered Naasson. Naasson was the father of Samon and Samon the father of Booz. Rachab was his mother. Booz married Ruth and they were the parents of Obed. Obed begot Jesse who begot David the King. David fathered Solomon. His mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon was the father of Roboam who was the father of Abia. Abia begot Asaph who begot Josaphat who in turn begot Joram who begot Ozias. Ozias was the father of Joatham who was the father of Achaz who in turn was the father of Hezekias. Hezekias was the father of Manasses who was the father of Amos. Amos begot Josias who in turn begot Jechonias and his brothers at the deportation of the people to Babylon. After the deportation of Babylon Jechonias begot Salathiel who begot Zorobabel who begot Abiud who begot Eliakim who begot Azor who begot Sadoc who begot Achim who father of begot Eliud who begot Eleazar who begot Matthan who begot Jacob. Now Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. All the generations from Abraham until David made up fourteen generations. From David until the deportation of Babylon there were fourteen generations. From the deportation of Babylon until the Christ there were also fourteen generations. 1:1-17
Jesus'Birth
The birth of Jesus Christ took place as follows. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph. But before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Now Joseph her husband was a just man and did not wish to hold her up as a public example. He resolved to dismiss her secretly. But while he was thinking about this, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him through a dream saying to him. “Joseph, son of David. Do not fear to take Mary as you wife. For what has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you will call him Jesus forspoken by the he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this occurred so that the things spoken by the Lord through the prophet may be fulfilled. “Behold the virgin will conceive in her womb and bear a son and they will call him Emmanuel which is understood as meaning God is with us.” When Joseph woke up from this sleep he did as the angel had bid him. He took his wife and did not know her until she bore a son. He gave him the name of Jesus. 1:18-25
John Baptising
There came a time when John the Baptist arrived proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea. He was saying “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.” He was the one spoken of through Isaiah the prophet who said "There is a voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.” Now John had dressed himself in camel hair with a leather girdle around his waist. His food consisted of locusts and wild honey. All of Jerusalem went out to him and all of Judea and everyone around the neighbourhood of the Jordan. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river confessing their sins. Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming to the baptism. On seeing them he said to them “Offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit worthy of repentance and do not think to say amongst yourselves that we have Abraham as our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these very stones. Already the axe is at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which is not producing good fruit is to be cut down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in water to repentance. But the one coming after me is stronger than me. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. The fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly clean his threshing-floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff, he will consume with unquenchable fire." 3:1-12
Jesus'Baptism
Then Jesus from Galilee arrived at the Jordan to be baptized by John. But he (John) forbade him saying “I have need to be baptized by you and here you are coming to me?” But answering Jesus said to him. “Permit this for now. For it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he (John) permitted him. and having been baptized Jesus immediately came up from the water. And behold the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove upon him. And behold a voice came out of the heavens saying. “This is my son the beloved in whom I have been well pleased.” 3:13-17
