Visitors from the East

Matthew 2:1-12

1. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
2. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.”
3. When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him.
4. After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
5. They answered, “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this in the Scriptures:

6. 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.' "

7. Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared.
8. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him, too!”
9. After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
10. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11. As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.