THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

 

Matthew Chapter 1

1 ¶ The lineage of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham fathered Isaac; and Isaac fathered Jacob; and Jacob fathered Judah and his brethren;

3 And Judah fathered Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez fathered Hezron; and Hezron fathered Ram;

4 And Ram fathered Amminadab; and Amminadab fathered Nahshon; and Nahshon fathered Salmon;

5 And Salmon fathered Boaz of Rachab; and Boaz fathered Obed of Ruth; and Obed fathered Jesse;

6 And Jesse fathered David the king; and David the king fathered Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;

7 And Solomon fathered Rehoboam; and Rehoboam fathered Abijah; and Abijah fathered Asa;

8 And Asa fathered Jehosaphat; and Jehosaphat fathered Joram; and Joram fathered Uzziah;

9 And Uzziah fathered Jotham; and Jotham fathered Ahaz; and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah;

10 And Hezekiah fathered Manasseh; and Manasseh fathered Amon; and Amon fathered Josiah;

11 And Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel; and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel;

13 And Zerubbabel fathered Abiud; and Abiud fathered Eliakim; and Eliakim fathered Azor;

14 And Azor fathered Zadok; and Zadok fathered Achim; and Achim fathered Eliud;

15 And Eliud fathered Eleazar; and Eleazar fathered Matthan; and Matthan fathered Jacob;

16 And Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 So there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David; fourteen generations from David until the Babylonian captivity; and fourteen generations from the Babylonian captivity to Christ.

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

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make a public example of her, resolved to divorce her privately.

20 But while he was thinking about it, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife: because what is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she will bring forth a son, and you will call his name JESUS: for he will save his people from their sins.

22 Now all this took place, to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, saying,

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

24 Then Joseph being aroused from his sleep did as the angel of the Lord had instructed him, and took his wife home to live with him:

25 But did not know her intimately until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

[Note: Verses 18-24 An espoused couple were legally man and wife, but according to custom were not intimate until after the groom took his bride home to live with him, usually in a procession, followed by a wedding feast.]