Mat 1:18-25 | ISV | STEP | The Virgin Conception and Birth of Jesus Christ Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they lived together she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

‏ Matthew 1:18-25

18 The Virgin Conception and Birth of Jesus Christ Luke 2:1-7Now the birth of Jesus Christ ^{▼▼I.e. the Messiah} happened in this way. When his mother Mary was engaged ^{▼▼Engagement involved a legally binding promise of marriage.} to Joseph, before they lived together she was discovered to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit.Luke 1:27, 35 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her secretly.Deut 24:1

20 After he had thought about it, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.Luke 1:35 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, ^{▼▼Jesus is the Gk. for Joshua, meaning The Lord saves.} because he is the one who will save his people from their sins.”Luke 1:31; Acts 4:12; 5:31

22 Now all this happened to fulfill what was declared by the Lord through the prophet when he said,

23 “See, a virgin will become pregnantIsa 7:14

and give birth to a son,

and they will name him Immanuel,” ^{▼▼Isa 7:14}

which means, “God with us.” 24 When Joseph got up from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary as ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks Mary as} his wife. 25 He did not have marital relations with ^{▼▼Lit. did not know} her until she had given birth to a son; ^{▼▼Other mss. read to her firstborn son} and he named him Jesus.Exod 13:2; Luke 2:7, 21