Section II.

[1] [Arabic, p. 7] 99Now100 the birth of Jesus the Messiah was on this wise:  In the time when his mother was given in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, [2] she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.  101And Joseph her husband was a just man and did not wish to expose her, and he purposed to put her away secretly.  [3] 102But when he thought of this, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, and said unto him, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary thy wife, for that [4] which is begotten103 in her is of the Holy Spirit.  104She shall bear a son, and thou shalt [5] call his name Jesus, and he shall save105 his people from their sins.  106And all this was that the saying from the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled:

[6] 107Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,

And they shall call his name Immanuel,

[7] which is, being interpreted, With us is our God.  108And when Joseph arose from his [8] sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife; 109and knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son.

[9] 110And in those days there went forth a decree from Augustus Cæsar that all the [10] people of his dominion111 should be enrolled. 112This first enrolment was113 while Quirinius [11, 12] was governor of Syria.  114And every man went to be enrolled in his city.  115And Joseph went up also from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to Judæa, to the city of David [13] which is called Bethlehem (for he was of the house of David and of his tribe), 116with [14] [Arabic, p. 8] Mary his betrothed, she being with child, to be enrolled there.  117And while [15] she was there the days for her being delivered were accomplished.  118And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them where they were staying.

[16] 119And there were in that region shepherds abiding, keeping their flock in the watch [17] of the night.  120And behold, the angel of God came unto them, and the glory of the [18] Lord shone upon them; and they were greatly terrified.  121And the angel said unto them, Be not terrified; for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to the [19] whole world; 122there is born to you this day a Saviour, which is the Lord the Messiah, [20] in the city of David.  123And this is a sign for you:  ye shall find a babe wrapped [21] in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger.  124And there appeared with the angels suddenly many heavenly forces praising125 God and saying,

[22] 126Praise be to God in the highest,

And on the earth peace, and good hope to men.

[23] 127And when the angels departed from them to heaven, the shepherds spake to one another and said, We will go to Bethlehem and see this word which hath been, as [24] the Lord made known unto us.  128And they came with haste, and found Mary and [25] Joseph, and the babe laid in a manger.  129And when they saw, they reported the word [26] which was spoken to them about the child.  130And all that heard wondered at the [27] description which the shepherds described131 to them.  132But Mary kept these133 sayings [28] and discriminated134 them in her heart.  135And those shepherds returned, magnifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard, according as it was described unto them.

[29] [Arabic, p. 9] 136And when eight days were fulfilled that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, being that by which he was called by the angel before his conception in the womb.

[30] 137And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were [31] completed, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him before the Lord 138(as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male opening the womb shall be called the [32] holy thing of the Lord), 139and to give a sacrificial victim as it is said in the law of [33] the Lord, A pair of doves or two young pigeons.  140And there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and this man was upright and pious, and expecting [34] the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  141And it had been said unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death till he had seen with [35] his eyes the Messiah142 of the Lord.  143And this man came by the Spirit to the temple; and at the time when his parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might [36] present for him a sacrifice, as it is written in the law, 144he bare him in his arms and praised God and said,

[37] 145Now loosest thou the bonds of thy servant, O Lord, in peace,146

According to thy saying;

[38] 147For mine eye hath witnessed thy mercy,

[39] 148Which thou hast made ready because of the whole world;

[40] 149A light for the unveiling150 of the nations,

And a glory to thy people Israel.

[41] 151And Joseph and his mother were marvelling at the things which were being said [42] concerning him.  152And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, Behold, he is set for the overthrow and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign of contention; [43] 153and a spear154 shall pierce155 through thine own soul; that the thoughts of the [44] [Arabic, p. 10] hearts of many may be revealed.  156And Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, was also advanced in years (and she dwelt [45] with her husband seven years from her virginity, 157and she remained a widow about eighty-four years); and she left not the temple, and served night a