1 T he book of the ancestry (genealogy) of Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the son (descendant) of David, the son (descendant) of Abraham.

These are the families through which Jesus Christ came. He came through David and Abraham.

2 A braham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.

3 J udah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Aram,

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah. Their mother was Tamar. Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Aram.

4 A ram the father of Aminadab, Aminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Aram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.

5 S almon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

Salmon was the father of Boaz. The mother of Boaz was Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed. The mother of Obed was Ruth. Obed was the father of Jesse.

6 J esse the father of King David, King David the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah,

Jesse was the father of David the king. King David was the father of Solomon. His mother had been the wife of Uriah.

7 S olomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.

8 A sa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah,

Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Joram. Joram was the father of Uzziah.

9 U zziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.

10 H ezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah.

11 A nd Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers about the time of the removal (deportation) to Babylon.

Josiah was the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time the people were taken to Babylon.

12 A fter the exile to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

After they were taken to the city of Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.

13 Z erubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor.

14 A zor the father of Sadoc, Sadoc the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,

Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Achim. Achim was the father of Eliud.

15 E liud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob.

16 J acob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called the Christ. (the Messiah, the Anointed)

Jacob was the father of Joseph. Joseph was the husband of Mary. She was the mother of Jesus Who is called the Christ.

17 S o all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, from David to the Babylonian exile (deportation) fourteen generations, from the Babylonian exile to the Christ fourteen generations.

So the number of families from Abraham to David was fourteen. The number of families from David to the time the people were taken to Babylon was fourteen. The number of families after they were taken to Babylon to the birth of Jesus Christ was fourteen. The Birth of Jesus

18 N ow the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant of the Holy Spirit.

The birth of Jesus Christ was like this: Mary His mother had been promised in marriage to Joseph. Before they were married, it was learned that she was to have a baby by the Holy Spirit.

19 A nd her husband Joseph, being a just and upright man and not willing to expose her publicly and to shame and disgrace her, decided to repudiate and dismiss (divorce) her quietly and secretly.

Joseph was her promised husband. He was a good man and did not want to make it hard for Mary in front of people. He thought it would be good to break the promised marriage without people knowing it.

20 B ut as he was thinking this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of (from, out of) the Holy Spirit.

While he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is to become a mother by the Holy Spirit.

21 S he will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins '> failing and missing the true end and scope of life, which is God].

A Son will be born to her. You will give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from the punishment of their sins.”

22 A ll this took place that it might be fulfilled which the Lord had spoken through the prophet,

This happened as the Lord said it would happen through the early preacher.

23 B ehold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel—which, when translated, means, God with us.

He said, “The young woman, who has never had a man, will give birth to a Son. They will give Him the name Immanuel. This means God with us.”

24 T hen Joseph, being aroused from his sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him: he took his wife.

Joseph awoke from his sleep. He did what the angel of the Lord told him to do. He took Mary as his wife.

25 B ut he had no union with her as her husband until she had borne her firstborn Son; and he called His name Jesus.

But he did not have her, as a husband has a wife, until she gave birth to a Son. Joseph gave Him the name Jesus.