Luke 2:15-20 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been...  Read More

Luke 2:8-14 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for...  Read More

Luke 2:7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.In v. 7, without any fanfare, Luke calls Jesus Mary’s “firstborn” (Gr. prototokos). This implies other children born later to Joseph and Mary (8:19-21; cf. Matt. 13:55-56). If Jesus was Mary’s “only” son, as Roman Catholicism espouses, Luke would ha...  Read More

Luke 2:4-7 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in ...  Read More

Luke 2:1-3 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.Caesar Augustus is just one of many historical figures Luke references in his narrative. Born Gaius Octavius but later given the...  Read More

Luke 1:36-38 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.            Now although Mary asked for no sign to confirm God’s mira...  Read More

Luke 1:34-35 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”            It is obvious that Mary understood Gabriel to mean that she would have a child as a virgin, for it would not have co...  Read More

Luke 1:30-33 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no e...  Read More

Luke 1:28 [Gabriel] said to [Mary], “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”            The Latin Vulgate reads, “Hail Mary, full of grace” and is used by Roman Catholics to prove that Mary was immaculately conceived—that she was born without original sin. In 1854 Pope Pius IX said, “The Most Holy Virgin Mary was in the first moment of her conception, by a unique gift of grace and privilege...  Read More

Luke: 1:26-29 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation...  Read More

Matthew 1:24-25 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.            Once Joseph awakened, he seems to have been a man on a mission. God’s communication to him was well received, for he went immediately to Mary, assured her of his devotion, and took...  Read More

Matthew 1:18-20 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, ...  Read More