Mary

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.

1Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in the land of Judea. Herod was king at that time. Wise men from a country in the east came to Jerusalem.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

NoteBethlehem was a small town. Judea was the part of the land around Jerusalem. Herod was a king who ruled there for the Romans. The wise men were men who studied the stars.

2They asked, "Where is the baby who was born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east. We have come to worship him."

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Note"The Jews" means God's people who lived in that land. Long ago people watched the sky for signs. A new star could mean a new king had been born.

3When King Herod heard this, he was upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was upset too.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

NoteHerod was upset because he wanted to stay king. A new king could take his place.

4Herod called together the leading priests and the scribes, the men who studied and copied God's writings. He asked them where the Christ, God's promised king, would be born.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

NotePriests were men who led worship at God's temple. Scribes copied God's words by hand, so they knew them well. "Christ" means "the chosen one." God had promised to send him.

5They told him, "In Bethlehem, in Judea. A prophet, a man who told people what God said, wrote it this way:

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

NoteA prophet was a person who told others what God said. Prophets lived long before Jesus was born.

6'Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are not the smallest of Judah's leading towns. A ruler will come out of you. He will care for my people Israel like a shepherd.'"

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

NoteJudah was the family group that lived in that part of the land. A shepherd takes care of sheep and keeps them safe. So a ruler like a shepherd takes care of his people.

7Then Herod called the wise men to meet him in secret. He asked them carefully when the star first appeared.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and look hard for the child. When you find him, come and tell me. Then I can go and worship him too."

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

NoteHerod said he wanted to worship the child. He was not telling the truth.

9After they listened to the king, they left. The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them. It stopped over the place where the child was.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10When they saw the star, they were filled with great joy.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11They went into the house. They saw the child with Mary his mother. They bowed down to the ground and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure bags. They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

NoteFrankincense and myrrh came from the sap of trees. They smelled sweet when they were burned. They cost as much as gold. These were gifts fit for a king. Bowing all the way to the ground showed great honor.

12God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they went home to their own country by a different road.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

NoteIn those days God sometimes gave people a message while they were asleep.

54He went to his hometown. He taught the people in their meeting place, and they were amazed. They asked, "Where did this man get such wisdom and such power?"

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

NoteThe meeting place was called a synagogue. People gathered there to pray and hear God's words read out loud.

55"Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother named Mary? Aren't James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers?"

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

NoteA carpenter built things from wood and stone, like doors and roofs. It was hard, ordinary work.

56"And aren't all his sisters here with us? So where did this man get all this?"

And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57They would not accept him. But Jesus said, "People honor a prophet everywhere except in his hometown and his own home."

And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

NoteThe King James says a prophet is not without "honour." Honor means being treated with respect.

58He did not do many miracles there, because the people did not believe.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

NoteThe old words "mighty works" mean miracles. Those are wonderful things only God can do.

1Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples, his close followers, went with him.

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

Note"His own country" means the town where Jesus grew up. That town was Nazareth. The people there had known him since he was small.

2On the Sabbath, the day of rest, Jesus taught in the synagogue, the place where people met to worship. Many who heard him were very surprised. They said, "Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has he been given? How can he do such powerful things?"

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

NoteThe Sabbath was the seventh day of every week. God's law said people should rest and not work that day. A synagogue was a building in town. Jews met there to pray and hear God's words read out loud.

3"Isn't this the carpenter, the man who builds things from wood? Isn't he Mary's son? Isn't he the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Don't his sisters live right here with us?" So they would not accept him.

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

NoteA carpenter made doors, roofs and farm tools out of wood. It was ordinary, hard work. Being "offended at him" does not mean their feelings were hurt. It means they would not believe he was anyone special.

4Jesus said to them, "A prophet, someone who tells people what God says, is honored everywhere. But he is not honored in his own town, or by his own family, or in his own house."

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

NoteThe old spelling "honour" is our word honor. To honor someone means to treat them as important.

5So he could not do any powerful miracles there. He only put his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

Note"Mighty work" is the old way of saying miracle. A miracle is something only God's power can do.

6He was amazed that they would not believe. Then he went from village to village, teaching the people.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

26When Elisabeth had been pregnant six months, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

NoteGalilee was the northern part of the country. Nazareth was a small, quiet town there, far from Jerusalem.

27God sent him to a young woman named Mary. She had never been with a man. She had promised to marry Joseph, who came from King David's family.

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

NoteBeing promised to marry was more serious than being engaged is today. The two were already called husband and wife. But they did not live together yet. David was Israel's greatest king, long before this. Joseph came from his family.

28The angel came to her and said, "Hello! God has been very kind to you. The Lord is with you. God has blessed you more than other women."

And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29When Mary saw him, his words troubled her. She wondered what this greeting could mean.

And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary. God is pleased with you."

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31"Listen. You are going to have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus."

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

NoteThe name Jesus means "God saves."

32"He will be great. People will call him the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him king, as his father David was king."

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Note"The Most High" is a name for God. It means no one is higher than he is. A throne is the special chair a king sits in. Sitting on David's throne means being king the way David was.

33"He will rule over Jacob's family forever. His kingdom will never end."

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

NoteJacob lived long ago, and all the people of Israel came from his family. So "Jacob's family" means the whole nation.

34Then Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen? I have never been with a man."

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come to you. The power of the Most High God will cover you. So the holy child born to you will be called the Son of God."

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Note"Cover you" means God's power will rest over her, like a shadow. Holy means set apart and belonging to God.

36"Look at your relative Elisabeth. She is going to have a son, even though she is old. People said she could not have a baby. She is now six months along."

And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37"Nothing is too hard for God."

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me just as you said." Then the angel left her.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

NoteA servant here means a woman who worked for someone and obeyed them. Mary is saying she will do whatever God wants.

39Soon after, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hills of Judah.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

NoteJudah was the hilly land in the south, near Jerusalem. Walking there from Nazareth took several days.

40She went into the house of Zacharias and said hello to Elisabeth.

And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41When Elisabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby jumped inside her. Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42She called out in a loud voice, "God has blessed you more than other women! And God has blessed the baby you will have!"

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43"Why is this happening to me? The mother of my Lord has come to visit me!"

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44"As soon as I heard you say hello, the baby inside me jumped for joy."

For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45"God has blessed you because you believed. What the Lord told you will really happen."

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46Then Mary said, "My whole heart tells how great the Lord is."

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

NoteThe King James says "my soul doth magnify the Lord." To magnify is to make something look bigger. Mary means her song shows everyone how great God is.

47"My spirit is full of joy, because God is my Savior. He is the one who saves me."

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48"He noticed me, his lowly servant. From now on, people in every time will call me blessed."

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49"God is strong, and he has done great things for me. His name is holy."

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50"He is kind to those who honor him. He is kind to them in every time, always."

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

NoteHonoring God here does not mean being scared of him. It means loving him and treating him as great.

51"He has shown how strong his arm is. He has scattered people whose hearts are full of proud thoughts."

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

NotePeople often talked about God's strong arm. It is a way of saying God is very powerful.

52"He has pulled powerful rulers down from their thrones. He has lifted up humble people."

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

NoteA throne is the special chair a king sits in. It stands for his power.

53"He has given hungry people plenty of good food. He has sent rich people away with nothing."

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54"He has helped Israel, his servant. He remembered to be kind."

He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55"He promised this long ago to our fathers, to Abraham and his family forever."

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Note"Our fathers" means the people of Israel who lived long, long before. Abraham was the first of them. God promised Abraham that his family would be God's own people.

56Mary stayed with Elisabeth about three months. Then she went back home.

And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

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.

8Shepherds were out in the fields nearby. They watched over their sheep all night.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

NoteShepherds took care of sheep. They slept outside with the sheep to keep them safe. Wild animals could come at night.

9An angel of the Lord came and stood by them. The bright glory of the Lord shone all around them. The shepherds were very afraid.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

NoteAn angel is a messenger God sends to tell people things. "The glory of the Lord" means a bright shining light that comes from God.

10The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news. It will make all the people very glad."

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

NoteThe King James says "good tidings." Tidings is an old word for news.

11"Today in Bethlehem, King David's town, a Savior was born for you. A Savior is someone who saves people. He is Christ the Lord, the special king God promised to send."

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

NoteA Savior is someone who rescues people from trouble. "Christ" is not a last name. It means the special king God had promised to send.

12"Here is how you will know him. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

NoteA sign here means a way to know something is true. The angel told them exactly what they would find.

13All at once, many more angels from heaven were there with him. They were praising God and saying:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

NoteThe King James says "the heavenly host." A host means a huge crowd. So this was a great many angels together.

14"Glory to God in the highest heaven! Peace on earth, and good will toward people!"

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Note"Glory to God in the highest" means praise to God up in heaven. "Good will toward men" means God is kind to people.

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.