Study Desk

After he had thought about it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.Luke 1:35;">[xr]

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea. For that is what was written by the prophet:

'O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,Micah 5:2; John 7:42; Revelation 2:27;">[xr] you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. For from you will come a ruler who will shepherdgovern">[fn] my people Israel.'"Micah 5:2; 2 Samuel 5:2">[fn]

Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "As you go, search carefully for the child. When you find him, tell me so that I, too, may go and worship him."

Having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they left for their own country by a different road.Matthew 1:20;">[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.

"A voice was heard in Ramah: wailing and great mourning. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted, because they no longer existed."Jeremiah 31:15">[fn]

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."

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]

and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!"Daniel 2:44; Matthew 4:17; 10:7;">[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]

Don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our forefather.' For I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!John 8:33,39; Acts 13:26; Romans 4:1,11, 16;">[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]

But Jesus answered him, "Let it be this way for now, for this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then Johnhe">[fn] let him.

When Jesus had been baptized, he immediately came up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens opened up for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him.Isaiah 11:2; 42:1; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32-33;">[xr]

After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he finally became hungry.

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]

Then Jesus said to him, "Go away,Get behind me">[fn] Satan! For it is written,Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20; Joshua 24:14; 1 Samuel 7:3;">[xr] 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"Deuteronomy 6:13">[fn]

The people livingsitting">[fn] in darkness have seen a great light,Isaiah 42:7; Luke 2:32;">[xr] and for those livingsitting">[fn] in the land and shadow of death, a light has risen."Isaiah 9:1-2">[fn]