And it came to pass in those days When John the Baptist was born, and Christ was conceived, and his mother pregnant with him, and the time of his birth drew on.

And this taxing was first made Or “this was the first enrolment, or taxing” in the Jewish nation; for there was another afterwards, when Judas the Galilean arose, and drew many after him, .

And all went to be taxed Throughout Judea, Galilee, and Syria; men, women, and children; every one into his own city; where he was born, and had any estate, and to which he belonged.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee Where he now lived, and worked at the trade of a carpenter; having for some reasons, and by one providence or another, removed hither from his native place: out of the city of Nazareth; which was in Galilee, where he and Mary lived; and where he had espoused…

To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife Whom also he had married, though he had not known her in a carnal way; she came along with him to be taxed and enrolled also, because she was of the same family of David, and belonged to the same city: being great with child; very near her time, and yet,…

And so it was, that while they were there At Bethlehem, waiting to be called and enrolled in their turn; the days were accomplished that she should be delivered; her reckoning was up, the nine months of her going with child were ended, and her full time to bring forth was come.

And she brought forth her firstborn son At Bethlehem, as was predicted; and the Jews themselves own, that the Messiah is already born, and born at Bethlehem.

And there were in the same country shepherds For Bethlehem was a place of pasture: near to Ephrata, the same with Bethlehem, were the fields of the wood, and the tower of Edar or the tower of the flock, and here David kept his father’s sheep, so that we need not wonder to hear of shepherds here,…

And lo, the angel of the Lord It may be Gabriel, who had brought the tidings of the conception of the Messiah to the virgin, and now the birth of him to the shepherds: came upon them; on a sudden, unexpectedly, at once, and stood by them, as some versions read; or rather, stood over them, over…

And the angel said unto them; fear not For he was not a messenger of bad, but of good tidings: for behold, I bring you good tidings; tidings, that were both wonderful and amazing, and therefore a “behold” is prefixed to them, as well as to excite to attention; and which were good news, and glad…

For unto you is born this day Day is here put for a natural day, consisting both of night and day; for it was night when Christ was born, and the angels brought the tidings of it to the shepherds.

And this shall be a sign unto you When they should come to Bethlehem, and to the inn where Joseph and Mary were: ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger; for though there might be many other children, in the inn, yet none else in swaddling clothes, at least lying in a…

And suddenly there was with the angel That brought the tidings of Christ’s birth to the shepherds: a multitude of the heavenly host: who being caused to fly swiftly, were at once with him, by his side, and about him; and which was a further confirmation of the truth of his message to them: these…

Glory to God in the highest Which with the following words, are not to be considered as a wish, that so it might be, but as an affirmation, that so it was; for the glory of God is great in the salvation, peace, and reconciliation of his people by Jesus Christ, even the glory of all his perfections;…

And it came to pass, as the angels The Persic version reads in the singular number, “the angel: were gone away from them into heaven”, from whence they came, and which was the place of their abode and residence; and therefore they are called the angels of heaven, where they always behold the face…

And they came with haste In the night, leaving their flocks, to see their incarnate Lord, as Zacchaeus hastened down from the tree to receive the Saviour.

And when they had seen it Or “him”, as the Arabic version reads, the child Jesus, or “them”, Joseph, Mary, and the child; or this whole affair, as had been related to them: they made known abroad; not only in the inn, and among all the people there but throughout the city of Bethlehem, the saying…

And all they that heard it What the shepherds related of what they had heard from the angel, and from Joseph and Mary, and what they had seen themselves; wondered at those things that were told them by the shepherds: for though they expected the Messiah, and that he would be born at Bethlehem, yet…

But Mary kept all these things Which the shepherds had related to her: and pondered them in her heart; or compared them in her mind, with what had been said to herself by the angel, and also by her husband, as well as what was said by Elisabeth at the time she made her a visit; but she said nothing…

And the shepherds returned From Bethlehem, to the fields, and to their flock there; glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard; from Joseph and Mary: and seen; as the babe lying in the manger: as it was told unto them; by the angel: they glorified God on account of the birth…

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child According to the original institution of circumcision, and which was strictly observed by religious persons, as by the parents of our Lord here, and by those of John the Baptist, Hence the Apostle Paul reckons this among his…

And when the days of purification Of the Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord; though most copies read, “of their purification”; and so read the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, including both Mary and Jesus: and now, though Mary was not polluted by the conception, bearing, and bringing forth…

As it is written in the law of the Lord In every male that openeth the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord; that is, devoted and consecrated to him, and so to be redeemed.

And to offer a sacrifice That is, when the time of purification came, the parents of our Lord brought him from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, to present him in the temple to the Lord as his, and to redeem him; and not only so, but to offer the sacrifice required of child-bed women: according to that which…

And behold there was a man in Jerusalem Not in Nazareth, or Bethlehem, but in Jerusalem, the metropolis of the nation: one that lived there, was an inhabitant of that city, and a person of fame and note.

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost Not in a dream, as the wise men were warned, nor by an angel, as Joseph, nor by a voice from heaven, which the Jews call “Bath Kol”, but by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, enlightening his understanding, and impressing on his mind: that he should…

And he came by the Spirit into the temple By the same Spirit of God, that revealed the above to him. The Ethiopic version renders it, “the Spirit brought him into the temple”: but Simeon was not brought thither, as this version seems to suggest, in such manner as Ezekiel was brought by the Spirit…

Then took he him up in his arms That same Spirit that had revealed unto him that he should not die till he saw the Messiah with his bodily eyes; and who by a secret impulse had moved him to go to the temple just at this time made known unto him that that child which Joseph and Mary then brought…

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant He acknowledges him as his Lord, and to have a despotic power over him with respect to life and death; and himself as his servant, which he was, both by creation and grace: and though it expresses humiliation, and a sense of distance and unworthiness, yet to be a…

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation The Messiah, who is often so called; see . He goes by the name of “salvation”, because the salvation of God’s elect is put into his hands, and he has undertook it; and because he is the author of it, he has fulfilled his engagements, and has accomplished what…

Which thou hast prepared In his eternal purposes and decrees, having chosen and foreordained Christ, and appointed him to be his salvation, to the ends of the earth; in his counsel and covenant of grace wherein it was agreed, determined, and concluded on, that he should be the Saviour of his…

A light to lighten the Gentiles Or for the revelation of the Gentiles; to reveal the love, grace, and mercy of God, an everlasting righteousness, and the way of life and salvation to them. Reference seems to be had to .

And Joseph and his mother The Vulgate Latin reads, “and his father and mother”. The Ethiopic version retains both his name and his relation, and reads, “and Joseph his father, and his mother”; but all the ancient copies read only “Joseph”, without the addition, his father; and so the Syriac,…

And Simeon blessed them Pronounced them blessed persons, on account of their relation to Christ as man; and more especially, because of their interest in him, as the, Saviour and Redeemer of them; and wished them all happiness and prosperity inward and outward, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; and…

Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also Meaning either the sword, “or spear of scandal”, as the Arabic version renders it; so the calumny, and reproach of the tongues of men, is compared to a sharp sword, and such the virgin might meet with on account of her conception in art unmarried…

And there was one Anna The name is the same with Hannah: so Hannah, the mother of Samuel, is by the Septuagint called Anna, in (1 Sam. 1:2, 1 Sam. 1:5, 1 Sam. 1:9, 1 Sam. 1:15, 1 Sam. 1:19, 1 Sam. 1:22, 1 Sam.

And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years Which is not the date of her whole age, as some have thought, but of her widowhood state, as distinct from her marriage state, and the time of her virginity. And this sense all the versions favour.

And she coming in that instant That the parents of Christ brought him into the temple; just as Simeon was embracing him in his arms, and blessing God for him, and saying the things concerning him he had done; and who also came at that juncture, as he did, under the impulse, and by the direction of…

And when they had performed all things Relating to the purification of Mary, and the presentation and redemption of her firstborn, and the sacrifices and ceremonies belonging thereunto: according to the law of the Lord; which that directed to, and enjoined: they returned into Galilee: not that they…

And the child grew In body, in strength, and in stature; which shows that it was a true body Christ assumed, and like ours, which did not come to its maturity at once, but by degrees: and waxed strong in spirit, or in his soul; for as he had a true body, he had also a reasonable soul; the faculties…

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year Joseph was obliged to go three times a year, as were all the males in Israel, at the feasts of the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, .

And when he was twelve years old Not that he was now, (בר מצוה) , “a son of the commandment”, [[16]] to use the Jewish phrase; or now came under the yoke of the law; or was obliged to the duties of adult church membership, as is asserted by some; nor particularly to go to Jerusalem to make his…

And when they had fulfilled the days The seven days of the fear of unleavened bread, for so many days that feast was observed; and though it was not absolutely necessary, and obligatory upon them to stay all that time at Jerusalem, yet Mary and Joseph seem so to have done, as did the more religious…

But they supposing him to have been in the company That travelled together into the same parts, having been, as they, at Jerusalem to keep the feast: went a day’s journey; either before they missed him; or if they missed him sooner, yet they went on inquiring for him in the company, until they were…

And when they found him not In the company that came from Jerusalem with them, nor among any of their relations and friends, with whom they supposed he was: they turned back again to Jerusalem, that is, the next morning, for it can hardly be thought they would set out that night, after they had…

And it came to pass, that after three days From their first setting out from Jerusalem, when Jesus tarried behind; or on the third day, which may be reckoned thus; the first day was spent in journeying, and the second in coming back the same journey, and the third day they sought all Jerusalem for…

And all that heard him were astonished All in the sanhedrim, both the doctors, and their disciples, were amazed, at his understanding; in the knowledge of the law, and of the Scriptures: and his answers; which he returned to the questions the doctor’s put to him, which were made with so much wisdom…

And when they saw him they were amazed That is, when Joseph and Mary saw him amidst the doctors, they were astonished that he was admitted among them, and had in such esteem by them: and his mother said unto him; she being his own, and only parent, and not Joseph; and therefore he said nothing, but…

And he said unto them, how is it that ye sought me? &c.] That is, with so much uneasiness and distress of mind, not trusting in the power and providence of God, to take care of him; and in other places, besides the temple, where they had been inquiring for him: wist ye not that I must be about my…

And they understood not the saying, &c.] What he meant by his Father’s house, or his Father’s business, and the necessity of his being there, and about that: which he spake unto them; at that time, and as above related.

And he went down with them From the temple, and from Jerusalem, which were on high ground: and came to Nazareth; where he, and his parents, had lived ever since their return from Egypt: and was subject unto them; for though he thought fit to let them know, or, at least, put them in mind, that he…

And Jesus increased in wisdom As man; for neither his divine wisdom, nor the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in him, as mediator, could admit of any increase; but as he grew in body, the faculties of his soul opened, and received gradually large measures of wisdom and knowledge, in things natural…