The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

Matthew 1:18-25

18. This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.
19. Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he decided to break the engagement and divorce her privately. [Note]
20. When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

     "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 
    21.
     She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 

22. So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said,

    23.
     "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 

24. When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife;
25. but she remained a virgin until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Luke 2:1-7

1. At that time the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
2. It was the first time a census was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3. Everyone went to his own town to be registered.
4. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.
5. He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child.
6. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
7. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.