Joseph

18Here is how Jesus Christ was born. His mother Mary had promised to marry Joseph. Before they lived together, people learned she was going to have a baby. The baby was hers by the Holy Spirit.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

NoteA promise to marry was very serious then. The two were already called husband and wife. Only a divorce could end it. The King James says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was simply an old word for spirit.

19Joseph was her husband, and he was a good man. He did not want to shame her in front of everyone. So he planned to end the marriage promise quietly.

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

NoteThe King James says Joseph was "a just man." That means he was good and fair. To "put her away privily" means to end the marriage quietly. Joseph did not want people talking about Mary. In those days a man promised in marriage was already called the woman's husband.

20While Joseph was thinking about this, he had a dream. An angel, a messenger from God, came to him and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Note"Behold" is an old word. It means look, or listen carefully. The angel calls Joseph "son of David." That means Joseph came from King David's family, long after David died.

21She will have a son. You are to name him Jesus. He will save his people from their sins."

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

NoteThe name Jesus means "God saves." The name tells what the boy would do.

22All of this happened so that what the Lord had said would come true. He had said it through a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23"Look, a virgin will have a baby. She will give birth to a son. People will call him Immanuel." That name means "God with us."

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

NoteA virgin is a woman who has never been with a man. These words were written long before by Isaiah, a prophet.

24Then Joseph woke up. He did just what the angel of the Lord had told him. He took Mary home as his wife.

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

NoteTaking a wife home meant something special then. The bride left her family and moved into her husband's house.

25But he did not come together with her as her husband until her son was born. And Joseph named the boy Jesus.

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

NoteThe King James says he "knew her not." That is a polite old way of speaking. It means they did not sleep together as husband and wife. "Firstborn" means her first baby.

13After the wise men left, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and hurry away to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you to come back. Herod is going to look for the child to kill him."

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends. Egypt was a big country far to the south. Walking there took many days. Herod was not king there, so it was safe.

14Joseph got up. That same night he took the child and his mother and left for Egypt.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15He stayed there until Herod died. This made the Lord's words through the prophet come true: "I called my son out of Egypt."

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

NoteThese words come from an older book of the Bible. Long before, God had brought his people out of Egypt.

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream in Egypt.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20The angel said, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. The men who wanted to kill the child are dead."

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

21So Joseph got up. He took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22But he heard that Archelaus was now ruling Judea instead of his father Herod. Joseph was afraid to go there. God warned him in a dream, so he went to the part of the country called Galilee.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

NoteArchelaus was Herod's son. He ruled Judea after his father died. Galilee was farther north, away from him. The King James says "in the room of his father." "In the room of" just means "in place of."

23He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This made the words of the prophets come true: "He will be called a Nazarene."

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

NoteNazareth was a small town in Galilee. A Nazarene means a person from Nazareth.

1Long ago, Caesar Augustus was the ruler of Rome. He made a rule. Everyone in all the world had to be counted and written on a list.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

NoteThe King James says "taxed." It means counting people and writing down their names. A ruler did this so he knew who should pay him money. Rome was a big empire that ruled many lands. Caesar Augustus was its ruler, far away from Bethlehem.

2This was the first time people were counted this way. Cyrenius was the governor of Syria then.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

NoteA governor was a man Rome put in charge of a big area. Syria was the large region just north of where Mary lived.

3So everyone went to his own town to be put on the list.

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

NotePeople had to go back to the town their family came from. That is why so many were traveling at once.

4Joseph lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He traveled to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of King David. Joseph came from David's family.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

NoteGalilee was in the north and Judea was in the south. Nazareth and Bethlehem were small towns. David had been Israel's greatest king long before. He grew up in Bethlehem, so it was called his town. Joseph was one of David's great great grandsons, many times over.

5Mary went with him to be put on the list. She was promised to marry Joseph. She was going to have a baby.

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

NoteThe King James says Mary was "espoused" to Joseph. Back then a promise to marry was very serious. It was almost like being married already.

6While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her baby to be born.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth. She laid him in a manger, a box that holds food for animals. There was no room for them in the inn, the place where travelers slept.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

NoteFirstborn means the first baby born in a family. Babies were wrapped snugly in long strips of cloth. People believed it helped a baby feel safe and warm. A manger is a box that animals eat out of.

15The angels went back into heaven. The shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing the Lord has told us about."

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16They hurried away. They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17When they had seen him, they told other people what the angel had said about this child.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18Everyone who heard the shepherds was amazed at what they said.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19But Mary kept all these things and thought about them in her heart.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

NoteTo ponder something is to think about it slowly and carefully. Mary kept remembering all that had happened.

20The shepherds went back to their fields. They praised God for all they had heard and seen. It happened just as the angel had said.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

25A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He did what was right, and he loved God. He was waiting for God to comfort the people of Israel. God's Holy Spirit was with him.

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Note"Devout" means he loved God and did what God said. Israel was the name of God's people. Simeon was waiting for God to comfort them and help them. The King James says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit. It means God's Holy Spirit.

26The Holy Spirit had told Simeon something. He would not die before he saw the Lord's Christ, the king God promised.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

NoteGod told Simeon a secret only he knew. He would live until he saw the promised king.

27The Spirit led Simeon into the temple, God's house in Jerusalem. Jesus' parents brought the child in to do what the law said.

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

NoteThe temple was God's house in Jerusalem. People came there to pray and bring gifts to God.

28Simeon took the baby in his arms. He thanked God and said:

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29"Lord, you have kept your promise. Now you may let me, your servant, go in peace."

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

NoteSimeon means he is ready to die now, and he is happy. He had waited a long time, and now he had seen the child.

30"With my own eyes I have seen the one you sent to save people."

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31"You have made him ready for all people to see."

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32"He is a light to show the way to people who are not Jewish. He brings honor to your people, Israel."

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

NoteGentiles are people who are not Jewish. Simeon says this child will be like a light for everyone.

33Joseph and Jesus' mother were amazed at what Simeon said about him.

And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34Simeon asked God to bless them. He said to Mary, "Because of this child, many people in Israel will fall, and many will rise. People will speak against him."

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

NoteSimeon means some people will follow this child and some will not. "Spoken against" means people will argue about him and say unkind things.

35"And a sword will cut through your own heart too. All of this will show what people are really thinking inside."

(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

NoteA sword is a long sharp knife. This is a word picture, not a real sword. It means Mary would feel very deep sadness one day.

41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. That feast helped people remember how God saved them long ago.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

NotePassover was a big feast every spring. Families ate a special meal together. It helped them remember how God rescued them long ago from Egypt.

42When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem for the feast as always.

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

NoteTwelve was an important age for a Jewish boy. He was starting to learn God's law like a grown-up.

43When the feast days were over, they started home. But Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother did not know it.

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44They thought he was somewhere in the group of travelers. They walked a whole day. Then they looked for him among their family and friends.

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

NoteFamilies traveled in big groups so the road was safer. It was easy to think a child was walking with cousins. "Kinsfolk" is an old word for relatives.

45They could not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to keep looking.

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting with the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

NoteThe King James calls them "doctors." These were not doctors who help sick people. They were teachers who studied God's law.

47Everyone who heard him was surprised. He understood so much, and his answers were wise.

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48His parents were amazed to see him there. His mother said, "Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I have been sad and worried, looking for you."

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

NoteMary is asking why he stayed without telling them. She had been very worried for three days.

49He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I had to be in my Father's house?"

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Note"Wist ye not" is old English for "did you not know." Jesus means the temple is his Father's house. He is calling God his Father.

50But they did not understand what he was telling them.

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51He went home to Nazareth with them and obeyed them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.

And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

NoteThe King James says he "was subject unto them." That means he obeyed his parents and did what they said.

52Jesus grew wiser and taller. God was pleased with him, and people were too.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Note"Stature" means how tall you are. "Favour" means people liked him and were pleased with him.