Study Desk

Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers.Genesis 21:2-3; 25:26; 29:35;">[xr]

Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon.2 Kings 24:14-16; 25:11; 1 Chronicles 3:15-16; 2 Chronicles 36:10,20; Jeremiah 27:20; 39:9; Daniel 1:2;">[xr]

Now the birth of Jesus Christ[fn] happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged[fn] to Joseph, before they lived together she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.Luke 1:27,35;">[xr]

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus,Joshua, meaning The Lord saves.">[fn] because he is the one who will save his people from their sins."Luke 1:31; Acts 4:12; 5:31;">[xr]

When Joseph got up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary asMary as">[fn] his wife.

and asked, "Where is the one who was born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the eastat its rising">[fn] and have come to worship him."Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 60:3; Luke 2:11;">[xr]

After they went into the house and saw the child with his mother Mary, they fell down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure sacks and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 60:6;">[xr]

After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him."

So Josephhe">[fn] got up and took the child and his mother and left at night for Egypt.

and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to kill the child are dead."

So Josephhe">[fn] got up and took the child and his mother and went into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he left for the region of GalileeMatthew 3:13; Luke 2:39;">[xr]

He was the one the prophet Isaiah was referring to when he said,Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 1:76; 3:4; John 1:23;">[xr] "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"Isaiah 40:3">[fn]

John had clothing made of camel's hair and worewore">[fn] a leather belt around his waist. His diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.Leviticus 11:22; 1 Samuel 14:25-26; 2 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4; Mark 1:6;">[xr]

But when Johnhe">[fn] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing,to his baptism">[fn] he said to them, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?Matthew 12:34; 23:33; Luke 3:7-9; Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10;">[xr]

I am baptizing you within">[fn] water as a token of repentance,for repentance">[fn] but the one who is coming after me is stronger than I am, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. It is he who will baptize you within">[fn] the Holy Spirit and fire.Isaiah 4:4; 44:3; Malachi 3:2; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:15,26, 33; Acts 1:5; 2:3-4; 11:16; 19:4; 1 Corinthians 12:13;">[xr]

His winnowing fork is in his hand. He will clean up his threshing floor and gather his grain into the barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire."Malachi 3:3; 4:1; Matthew 13:30;">[xr]

He said to Jesus,him">[fn] "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written,Psalm 91:11-12;">[xr] 'GodHe">[fn] will put his angels in charge of you,' and 'With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'"Psalm 91:11-12">[fn]

While Jesushe">[fn] was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers - Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.Mark 1:16-18; Luke 5:2; John 1:42;">[xr]

Going on from there he saw two other brothers - James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee repairing their nets. When he called them,Mark 1:19-20; Luke 5:10;">[xr]