Chapter V.—A Statement of the Manner in Which Luke’s Procedure is Proved to Be in Harmony with Matthew’s in Those Matters Concerning the Conception and the Infancy or Boyhood of Christ, Which are Omitted by the One and Recorded by the Other.

14. After the enumeration of the generations, Matthew proceeds thus: Now the birth of Christ213    [The omission of “Jesus” is an early variation of the Latin text of the Gospel.—R.] was on this wise. Whereas His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.214    Matt. i. 18. What Matthew has omitted to state here regarding the way in which that came to pass, has been set forth by Luke after his account of the conception of John. His narrative is to the following effect: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art full of grace,215    Gratia plena. [Comp. Revised Version margin.—R.] the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw216    Quæ cum vidisset. Others read audisset, heard. [The better Greek mss. omit the clause. The variation in the Latin text here was probably due to the later gloss of the scribes.—R.] these things, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her: Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born217    Various editions insert ex te, of thee; but the words are omitted in three Vatican mss., and most of the Gallican. See Migne’s note. [Omitted in the Greek text, according to the best authorities.—R.] shall be called the Son of God;218    Luke i. 26–34. [Ver. 34 is differently rendered in the text of the Revised Version. The Latin of Augustin would perhaps admit of the same sense, but is more naturally explained as above.—R.] and then follow matters not belonging to the question at present in hand. Now all this Matthew has recorded [summarily], when he tells us of Mary that “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Neither is there any contradiction between the two evangelists, in so far as Luke has set forth in detail what Matthew has omitted to notice; for both bear witness that Mary conceived by the Holy Ghost. And in the same way there is no want of concord between them, when Matthew, in his turn, connects with the narrative something which Luke leaves out. For Matthew proceeds to give us the following statement: Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son; and His name shall be called219    Vocabitur. The mss. give vocabunt, they shall call; one ms. gives vocabis, thou shalt call. [The proper reading is probably vocabunt; at all events, this accords with the Greek text. The variations can be accounted for by the presence of vocabitur and vocabis in previous part of the paragraph.—R.] Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is, God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife; and knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son;220    [The best Greek mss. read “a son” in Matt. i. 23. In Luke ii. 7 “first-born” occurs.—R.] and he called His name Jesus. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa, in the days of Herod the king, and so forth.221    Matt. i. 19–21.

15. With respect to the city of Bethlehem, Matthew and Luke are at one. But Luke explains in what way and for what reason Joseph and Mary came to it; whereas Matthew gives no such explanation. On the other hand, while Luke is silent on the subject of the journey of the magi from the east, Matthew furnishes an account of it. That narrative he constructs as follows, in immediate connection with what he has already offered: Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Now, when Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled.222    Matt. ii. 1–3. And in this manner the account goes on, down to the passage where of these magi it is written that, “being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”223    Matt. ii. 12. This entire section is omitted by Luke, just as Matthew fails to mention some other circumstances which are mentioned by Luke: as, for example, that the Lord was laid in a manger; and that an angel announced His birth to the shepherds; and that there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God; and that the shepherds came and saw that that was true which the angel had announced to them; and that on the day of His circumcision He received His name; as also the incidents reported by the same Luke to have occurred after the days of the purification of Mary were fulfilled,—namely, their taking Him to Jerusalem, and the words spoken in the temple by Simeon or Anna concerning Him, when, filled with the Holy Ghost, they recognized Him. Of all these things Matthew says nothing.

16. Hence, a subject which deserves inquiry is the question concerning the precise time when these events took place which are omitted by Matthew and given by Luke, and those, on the other hand, which have been omitted by Luke and given by Matthew. For after his account of the return of the magi who had come from the east to their own country, Matthew proceeds to tell us how Joseph was warned by an angel to flee into Egypt with the young child, to prevent His being put to death by Herod; and then how Herod failed to find Him, but slew the children from two years old and under; thereafter, how, when Herod was dead, Joseph returned from Egypt, and, on hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judæa instead of his father Herod, went to reside with the boy in Galilee, at the city Nazareth. All these facts, again, are passed over by Luke. Nothing, however, like a want of harmony can be made out between the two writers merely on the ground that the latter states what the former omits, or that the former mentions what the latter leaves unnoticed. But the real question is as to the exact period at which these things could have taken place which Matthew has linked on to his narrative; to wit, the departure of the family into Egypt, and their return from it after Herod’s death, and their residence at that time in the town of Nazareth, the very place to which Luke tells us that they went back after they had performed in the temple all things regarding the boy according to the law of the Lord. Here, accordingly, we have to take notice of a fact which will also hold good for other like cases, and which will secure our minds against similar agitation or disturbance in subsequent instances. I refer to the circumstance that each evangelist constructs his own particular narrative on a kind of plan which gives it the appearance of being the complete and orderly record of the events in their succession. For, preserving a simple silence on the subject of those incidents of which he intends to give no account, he then connects those which he does wish to relate with what he has been immediately recounting, in such a manner as to make the recital seem continuous. At the same time, when one of them mentions facts of which the other has given no notice, the order of narrative, if carefully considered, will be found to indicate the point at which the writer by whom the omissions are made has taken the leap in his account, and thus has attached the facts, which it was his purpose to introduce, in such a manner to the preceding context as to give the appearance of a connected series, in which the one incident follows immediately on the other, without the interposition of anything else. On this principle, therefore, we understand that where he tells us how the wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and how they went back to their own country by another way, Matthew has simply omitted all that Luke has related respecting all that happened to the Lord in the temple, and all that was said by Simeon and Anna; while, on the other hand, Luke has omitted in the same place all notice of the journey into Egypt, which is given by Matthew, and has introduced the return to the city of Nazareth as if it were immediately consecutive.

17. If any one wishes, however, to make up one complete narrative out of all that is said or left unsaid by these two evangelists respectively, on the subject of Christ’s nativity and infancy or boyhood, he may arrange the different statements in the following order:—Now the birth of Christ was on this wise.224    Matt. i. 18; Luke i. 5. [In this extended citation from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, the Latin text given by Augustin is in many cases, more closely reproduced in the Revised Version than in the Authorized. The translator has, as usual, taken the language of the latter, except in a few places, where the difference seemed more important and striking.—R.] There was, in the days of Herod the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were well stricken in years. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God, in the order of his course, according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord: and the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord: and he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people perfect225    Perfectum. for the Lord. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. And the angel, answering, said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb,226    [Tacens; the fair equivalent of the original Greek phrase properly rendered “silent’” in the Revised Version.—R.] and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried in the temple. And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. And it came to pass that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked upon me, to take away my reproach among men. And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art full of grace,227    Gratia plena. the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.228    [Compare above on § 14.—R.] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her who is called229    Vocatur. barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? for, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed art thou that didst believe,230    Beata quæ credidisti. for there shall be a performance of those things which were told thee from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation. He hath made 231    Fecit. strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath holpen232    Undertaken—suscepit. His servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy: as He spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.233    Luke i. 5–36. Then it proceeds thus:—She was found with child of the Holy Ghost.234    Matt. i. 18. [The discovery of Mary’s condition probably occurred, as the order of Augustin implies, after the return of Mary from the visit to Elizabeth. But it is altogether uncertain whether it preceded the birth of John the Baptist.—R.] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel; which, being interpreted, is, God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not.235    Matt. i. 18–25. [The last clause of ver. 25 is omitted here, but given in §14. Possibly the variation was intentional.—R.]

Now236    Luke i. 57. Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her relatives237    Cognati. heard that the Lord magnified His mercy with her; and they congratulated her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called238    [Vocabunt, “would have called,” answering to the Greek imperfect of arrested action.—R.] him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue, and he spake and praised God. And fear came on all them that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What manner of child, thinkest thou, shall this be? For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; as He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began; (to give) salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us: to perform mercy with our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He sware to Abraham our father that He would give to us; in order that, being saved out of the hand of our enemies, we might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all our days. And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto His people, for the remission239    In remissionem. of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his showing unto Israel. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 240    Describeretur, registered. [Revised Version, “should be enrolled.”—R.] This first taxing241    Descriptio prima [This is now the accepted sense of the phrase in Luke ii. 2; Comp. Revised Version.—R.] was made when Syrinus242    Reading præside Syriæ Syrino; in some mss. it is a præside, etc., and sub præside also occurs. was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed,243    Profiterentur, to make their declaration. every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed244    Profiteretur, make his declaration. with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped Him in swaddling-clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the vigils of the night over their flock. And, lo, the angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill.245    Hominibus bonæ voluntatis. [Comp Revised Version.—R.] And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they understood246    Cognoverunt. the saying which had been told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it, wondered also at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.247    Luke i. 57-ii. 21. And then it proceeds thus:248    Matt. ii. 1. [It is here assumed that the visit of the Magi preceded the presentation in the temple. But this order cannot be positively established. The two events must be placed near together. In chap. xi. Augustin implies that there was an interval of some length. The traditional date of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) is clearly too early, since it assumes an interval of twenty-seven days.—R.] Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Now when Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa; for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently the time of the star which appeared unto them. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star which they had seen in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they found249    Invenerunt. the child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return unto Herod, they departed into their own country another way.250    Matt. ii. 1–12. Then, after this account of their return, the narrative goes on thus:251    Luke ii. 22. When the days of her (His mother’s) purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was in him.

And it had been revealed unto him252    Responsum acceperat. by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when His parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the law, then took he Him up in his arms, and said, Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. And His father and mother253    Pater ejus et mater. [“Joseph” was early substituted. Augustin follows the text now accepted on the authority of the best Greek mss.—R.] marvelled at those things which were spoken of Him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against; and a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers day and night. And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks254    Confitebatur, made acknowledgment. also unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for the redemption of Jerusalem.255    Reading redemptionem Jerusalem; for which some editions gave redemptionem Israel. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,256    Luke ii. 22–39. behold,257    Matt. ii. 13. the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my Son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and great mourning,258    [The briefer reading, here accepted, is more correctly rendered in the Revised Version.—R.] Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee; and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.259    Matt. ii. 13–23. And260    Luke ii. 40. the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was in Him. And His parents went to Jerusalem every year, at the feast of the passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and His parents261    Parentes ejus. [“Joseph and His mother” is the later reading, followed in the Authorized Version.—R.] knew not of it. But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking Him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. And when they saw Him, they were amazed. And His mother said to Him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?262    In his quæ Patris mei sunt. [Comp. Revised Version.—R.] And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; and His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.263    Reading, with the mss., conservabat omnia verba hæc in corde suo. Some editions insert conferens, pondering them. And Jesus increased in wisdom and age,264    Ætate. [So Revised Version margin.—R.] and in favour with God and men.265    Luke ii. 40–52.

CAPUT V. Quomodo Matthaei ordini congruat ordo Lucae in his quae de conceptu et de infantia vel pueritia Christi alius praetermittit, alius commemorat.

14. Post enumeratas generationes Matthaeus ita sequitur: Christi autem generatio sic erat. Cum esset desponsata mater ejus Maria Joseph, antequam convenirent, inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu sancto. Hoc quemadmodum factum sit, quod hic praetermisit, Lucas exposuit post commemoratum conceptum Joannis, ita narrans: In mense autem sexto missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth, ad virginem desponsatam viro cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David; et nomen virginis Maria. Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit: Ave, gratia plena; Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus. Quae cum vidisset , turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria; invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum: ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: 1078 hic erit magnus, et filius Altissimi vocabitur; et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus, et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum, et regni ejus non erit finis. Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? Et respondens angelus, dixit ei: Spiritus sanctus superveniet in te, et Virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi; ideoque et quod nascetur sanctum , vocabitur Filius Dei: et caetera, quae ad id quod nunc agitur non pertinent. Hoc ergo Matthaeus commemoravit dicens de Maria, Inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu sancto: nec contrarium est quia Lucas exposuit id quod Matthaeus praetermisit; cum de Spiritu sancto Mariam concepisse uterque testetur: sicut non est contrarium quia Matthaeus deinceps connectit quod Lucas praetermittit. Sequitur enim, et dicit Matthaeus: Joseph autem vir ejus cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere, voluit occulte dimittere eam. Haec autem eo cogitante, ecce angelus Domini in somnis apparuit ei, dicens: Joseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam; quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu sancto est. Pariet autem filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum. Hoc autem totum factum est, ut impleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem, Ecce virgo in utero habebit, et pariet filium, et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel, quod est interpretatum, Nobiscum Deus. Exsurgens autem Joseph a somno, fecit sicut praecepit ei angelus Domini; et accepit conjugem suam: et non cognoscebat eam, donec peperit filium suum primogenitum; et vocavit nomen ejus Jesum. Cum ergo natus esset Jesus in Bethleem Judae in diebus Herodis regis, et caetera.

15. De civitate Bethleem Matthaeus Lucasque consentiunt: sed quomodo et qua causa ad eam venerint Joseph et Maria, Lucas exponit, Matthaeus praetermittit. Contra, de Magis ab Oriente venientibus Lucas tacet, Matthaeus dicit, ita contexens: Ecce Magi ab Oriente venerunt Jerosolymam, dicentes: Ubi est qui natus est rex Judaeorum? vidimus enim stellam ejus in Oriente, et venimus adorare eum. Audiens autem Herodes rex turbatus est; et caetera, usque ad eum locum, ubi scriptum est de ipsis Magis quod responso accepto in somnis, ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam reversi sunt in regionem suam. Hoc totum Lucas praetermittit, sicut Matthaeus non narravit quod Lucas narrat, in praesepi positum Dominum; et quod pastoribus eum natum angelus nuntiaverit; et quod multitudo militiae coelestis facta est cum angelo laudantium Deum; et quod venerunt pastores, et viderunt verum esse quod eis angelus nuntiaverat; et quod die circumcisionis suae nomen acceperit; et quae post impletos dies purgationis Mariae idem Lucas narrat, quod attulerint eum ad Jerusalem, et de Simeone vel 1079 Anna, quae dixerint de illo in templo, posteaquam cognoverunt eum impleti Spiritu sancto: omnia haec tacet Matthaeus.

16. Unde merito quaeritur quando facta sint, sive quae Matthaeus praetermittit et Lucas dicit, sive quae Lucas praetermittit et Matthaeus dicit. Quandoquidem Matthaeus, regressis in regionem suam Magis qui venerant ab Oriente, sequitur et narrat, Joseph ab angelo admonitum ut cum infante in Aegyptum fugeret, ne ab Herode necaretur; deinde Herodem illo non invento, a bimatu et infra pueros occidisse: defuncto autem Herode rediisse ab Aegypto, et audito quod Archelaus in Judaea regnaret pro Herode patre suo, habitasse cum puero in Galilaeae civitate Nazareth: quae omnia Lucas tacet. Nec ideo contrarium videri potest, quod vel hic dicit quae ille praetermittit, vel ille commemorat quae iste non dicit. Sed quaeritur quando fieri potuerint quae contexit Matthaeus de profectione in Aegyptum atque inde regressione post Herodis mortem, ut jam in civitate Nazareth habitarent, quo eos Lucas, posteaquam perfecerunt in templo circa puerum omnia secundum Legem Domini, reversos esse commemorat. Hic proinde cognoscendum est quod deinceps ad caetera talia valeat, ne similiter moveant animumque conturbent, sic unumquemque Evangelistam contexere narrationem suam, ut tanquam nihil praetermittentis series digesta videatur: tacitis enim quae non vult dicere, sic ea quae vult dicere, illis quae dicebat adjungit, ut ipsa continuo sequi videantur: sed cum alter ea dicit quae alter tacuit, diligenter ordo consideratus indicat locum ubi ea potuerit, a quo praetermissa sunt, transilire, ut ea quae dicere intenderat ita superioribus copularet, tanquam ipsa nullis interpositis sequerentur. Ac per hoc intelligitur Matthaeus, ubi ait somnio admonitos Magos ne redirent ad Herodem, et per aliam viam regressos in regionem suam; illic praetermisisse quae Lucas narravit gesta circa Dominum in templo, et dicta a Simeone et Anna: ubi rursus Lucas praetermittens profectionem in Aegyptum, quam narrat Matthaeus, tanquam continuam contexuit regressionem ad civitatem Nazareth.

17. Si quis autem velit unam narrationem ex omnibus, quae de Christi nativitate et infantia vel pueritia in utriusque narratione ab alterutro seu dicuntur seu praetermittuntur, ordinare sic potest: Christi autem generatio sic erat (Matth. I, 18). Fuit in diebus Herodis regis Judaeae sacerdos quidam nomine Zacharias, de vice Abia: et uxor illi de filiabus Aaron, et nomen ejus Elisabeth. Erant autem justi ambo ante Deum, incedentes in omnibus mandatis et justificationibus Domini sine querela. Et non erat illis filius, eo quod esset Elisabeth sterilis, et ambo processissent in diebus suis. Factum est autem cum sacerdotio fungeretur in ordine vicis suae ante Deum, secundum consuetudinem sacerdotii, sorte exiit ut incensum poneret ingressus in templum Domini: et omnis multitudo populi erat orans foris hora incensi. Apparuit autem illi angelus Domini, stans a dextris altaris incensi: et Zacharias turbatus 1080 est videns, et timor irruit super eum. Ait autem ad illum angelus: Ne timeas, Zacharia, quoniam exaudita est deprecatio tua, et uxor tua Elisabeth pariet tibi filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Joannem: et erit gaudium tibi, et exsultatio, et multi in nativitate ejus gaudebunt: erit enim magnus coram Domino: et vinum et siceram non bibet; et Spiritu sancto replebitur adhuc ex utero matris suae: et multos filiorum Israel convertet ad Dominum Deum ipsorum: et ipse praecedet ante illum in spiritu et virtute Eliae, ut convertat corda patrum in filios, et incredulos ad prudentiam justorum, parare Domino plebem perfectam. Et dixit Zacharias ad angelum: Unde hoc sciam? ego enim sum senex, et uxor mea processit in diebus suis. Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Ego sum Gabriel qui adsto ante Deum, et missus sum loqui ad te, et haec tibi evangelizare: et ecce eris tacens, et non poteris loqui usque in diem quo haec fiant, pro eo quod non credidisti verbis meis, quae implebuntur in tempore suo. Et erat plebs exspectans Zachariam, et mirabantur quod tardaret ipse in templo. Egressus autem non poterat loqui ad illos, et cognoverunt quod visionem vidisset in templo. Et ipse erat innuens illis, et permansit mutus. Et factum est, ut impleti sunt dies officii ejus, abiit in domum suam. Post hos autem dies concepit Elisabeth uxor ejus, et occultabat se mensibus quinque, dicens: Quia sic mihi fecit Dominus in diebus, quibus respexit auferre opprobrium meum inter homines. In mense autem sexto, missus est angelus Gabriel a Deo in civitatem Galilaeae, cui nomen Nazareth, ad virginem desponsatam viro cui nomen erat Joseph, de domo David; et nomen virginis Maria. Et ingressus angelus ad eam dixit: Ave, gratia plena; Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus. Quae cum vidisset, turbata est in sermone ejus, et cogitabat qualis esset ista salutatio. Et ait angelus ei: Ne timeas, Maria, invenisti enim gratiam apud Deum: ecce concipies in utero, et paries filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: hic erit magnus, et filius Altissimi vocabitur; et dabit illi Dominus Deus sedem David patris ejus, et regnabit in domo Jacob in aeternum, et regni ejus non erit finis. Dixit autem Maria ad angelum: Quomodo fiet istud, quoniam virum non cognosco? Et respondens angelus dixit ei: Spiritus sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi; ideoque et quod nascetur sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei: et ecce Elisabeth cognata tua, et ipsa concepit filium in senectute sua; et hic mensis est sextus illi quae vocatur sterilis: quia non erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum. Dixit autem Maria: Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. Et discessit ab illa angelus. Exsurgens autem Maria in diebus illis, abiit in montana cum festinatione in civitatem Juda: et intravit in domum Zachariae, et salutavit Elisabeth. Et factum est, ut audivit salutationem Mariae Elisabeth, exsultavit infans in utero ejus; et repleta est Spiritu sancto Elisabeth, et exclamavit voce magna, et dixit: Benedicta tu inter mulieres, et benedictus fructus ventris tui. Et unde hoc mihi, ut veniat mater Domini mei ad me? Ecce enim ut facta est vox salutationis tuae in 1081 auribus meis, exsultavit in gaudio infans in utero meo: et beata quae credidisti, quoniam perficientur ea quae dicta sunt tibi a Domino. Et ait Maria: Magnificat anima mea Dominum. Et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo. Quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes. Quia fecit mihi magna qui potens est, et sanctum nomen ejus. Et misericordia ejus in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui. Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles. Esurientes implevit bonis, et divites dimisit inanes. Suscepit Israel puerum suum, memorari misericordiae suae. Sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini ejus in saecula. Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus, et reversa est in domum suam (Luc. I, 5, 36); et inventa est in utero habens de Spiritu sancto. Joseph autem vir ejus, cum esset justus, et nollet eam traducere, voluit occulte dimittere eam. Haec autem eo cogitante, ecce angelus Domini in somnis apparuit ei dicens: Joseph, fili David, noli timere accipere Mariam conjugem tuam: quod enim in ea natum est, de Spiritu sancto est. Pariet autem filium, et vocabis nomen ejus Jesum: ipse enim salvum faciet populum suum a peccatis eorum. Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem: Ecce Virgo in utero habebit et pariet filium, et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel, quod est interpretatum, Nobiscum Deus. Exsurgens autem Joseph a somno, fecit sicut praecepit ei angelus Domini, et accepit conjugem suam: et non cognoscebat eam (Matth. I, 18-25). Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium. Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus, quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei. Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris ejus Zachariam. Et respondens mater ejus, dixit: Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes. Et dixerunt ad illam: Quia nemo est in cognatione tua qui vocetur hoc nomine. Innuebant autem patri ejus quem vellet vocari eum. Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens: Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi. Apertum est autem illico os ejus et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum. Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum; et super omnia montana Judaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec. Et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes: Quid putas puer iste erit? Etenim manus Domini erat cum illo. Et Zacharias pater ejus impletus est Spiritu sancto, et prophetavit, dicens: Benedictus Dominus, Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae. Et erexit cornu salutis nobis, in domo David pueri sui. Sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo sunt, Prophetarum ejus. Salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos. Ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris, et memorari testamenti sui sancti. 1082 Jusjurandum quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis. Ut sine timore de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati serviamus illi, in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris. Et tu, puer, Propheta Altissimi vocaberis: praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus, ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorum. Per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri in quibus visitavit nos Oriens ex alto. Illuminare iis qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent, ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis. Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu; et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suae ad Israel. Factum est autem in diebus illis, exiit edictum a Caesare Augusto, ut describeretur universus orbis. Haec descriptio prima facta est praeside Syriae Syrino. Et ibant omnes ut profiterentur singuli in suam civitatem. Ascendit autem et Joseph a Galilaea de civitate Nazareth in Judaeam civitatem David, quae vocatur Bethleem, eo quod esset de domo et familia David, ut profiteretur cum Maria desponsata sibi uxore praegnante. Factum est autem cum essent ibi, impleti sunt dies ut pareret: et peperit filium suum primogenitum, et pannis eum involvit; et reclinavit eum in praesepio; quia non erat eis locus in diversorio. Et pastores erant in eadem regione vigilantes et custodientes vigilias noctis supra gregem suum: et ecce angelus Domini stetit juxta illos, et claritas Dei circumfulsit illos, et timuerunt timore magno. Et dixit illis angelus: Nolite timere: ecce enim evangelizo vobis gaudium magnum, quod erit omni populo; quia natus est vobis hodie Salvator, qui est Christus Dominus, in civitate David. Et hoc vobis signum: invenietis infantem pannis involutum, et positum in praesepio. Et subito facta est cum angelo multitudo militiae caelestis, laudantium Deum et dicentium: Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Et factum est ut discesserunt ab eis angeli in coelum, pastores loquebantur ad invicem: Transeamus usque Bethleem, et videamus hoc verbum quod factum est, quod Dominus ostendit nobis. Et venerunt festinantes, et invenerunt Mariam et Joseph, et infantem positum in praesepio. Videntes autem cognoverunt de verbo quod dictum erat illis de puero hoc. Et omnes qui audierunt mirati sunt, et de iis quae dicta erant a pastoribus ad ipsos. Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens in corde suo. Et reversi sunt pastores glorificantes et laudantes Deum in omnibus quae audierant et viderant, sicut dictum est ad illos. Et postquam consummati sunt dies octo ut circumcideretur puer, vocatum est nomen ejus Jesus, quod vocatum est ab angelo priusquam in utero conciperetur (Luc. I, 57, II, 21). Et ecce Magi ab Oriente venerunt Jerosolymam, dicentes: Ubi est qui natus est rex Judaeorum? vidimus enim stellam ejus in Oriente, et venimus adorare eum. Audiens autem Herodes rex turbatus est, et omnis Jerosolyma cum illo. Et congregans omnes principes sacerdotum et Scribas populi, 1083 sciscitabatur ab eis ubi Christus nasceretur. At illi dixerunt ei, In Bethleem Judae: sic enim scriptum est per prophetam, Et tu Bethleem terra Juda, nequaquam minima es in principibus Juda; ex te enim exiet dux qui regat populum meum Israel. Tunc Herodes clam vocatis Magis, diligenter didicit ab eis tempus stellae quae apparuit eis. Et mittens eos in Bethleem dixit: Ite, et interrogate diligenter de puero; et cum inveneritis renuntiate mihi, ut et ego veniens adorem eum. Qui cum audissent regem, abierunt: et ecce stella quam viderant in Oriente, antecedebat eos, usque dum veniens staret supra ubi erat puer. Videntes autem stellam, gavisi sunt gaudio magno valde. Et intrantes domum, invenerunt puerum cum Maria matre ejus: et procidentes adoraverunt eum; et apertis thesauris suis obtulerunt ei munera, aurum, thus et myrrham. Et responso accepto in somnis, ne redirent ad Herodem, per aliam viam regressi sunt in regionem suam (Matth. II, 1-12). Qui cum recessissent, posteaquam impleti sunt dies purgationis matris ejus, secundum Legem Moysi, tulerunt illum in Jerusalem, ut sisterent eum Domino: sicut scriptum est in Lege Domini, Quia omne masculinum adaperiens vulvam, sanctum Domino vocabitur. Et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in Lege Domini, par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum. Et ecce homo erat in Jerusalem, cui nomen Simeon, et homo iste justus et timoratus, exspectans consolationem Israel, et Spiritus sanctus erat in eo: et responsum acceperat a Spiritu sancto, non visurum se mortem, nisi prius videret Christum Domini: et venit in Spiritu in templum. Et cum inducerent puerum Jesum parentes ejus, ut facerent secundum consuetudinem Legis pro eo, et ipse accepit eum in amplexus suos, et benedixit Deum, et dixit: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace. Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum, quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum. Lumen ad revelationem Gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. Et erant pater ejus et mater mirantes super his quae dicebantur de illo. Et benedixit illos Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus: Ecce positus est hic in ruinam et resurrectionem multorum in Israel, et in signum cui contradicetur; et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius, ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes. Et erat Anna prophetissa filia Phanuel de tribu Aser: haec processerat in diebus multis, et vixerat cum viro suo annis septem a virginitate sua; et haec vidua usque ad annos octoginta quatuor, quae non discedebat de templo, jejuniis et obsecrationibus serviens nocte ac die. Et haec, ipsa hora superveniens, confitebatur Domino, et loquebatur de illo omnibus qui exspectabant redemptionem Jerusalem . Et ut perfecerunt omnia secundum Legem Domini (Luc. II, 22-39), ecce angelus Domini apparuit in somnis Joseph, dicens: Surge, et accipe puerum et matrem ejus, et fuge in Aegyptum, et esto ibi usque dum dicam tibi; futurum est enim ut Herodes 1084 quaerat puerum ad perdendum eum. Qui consurgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus nocte, et secessit in Aegyptum. Et erat ibi usque ad obitum Herodis: ut adimpleretur quod dictum est a Domino per prophetam dicentem, ex Aegypto vocavi filium meum. Tunc Herodes videns quoniam illusus esset a Magis, iratus est valde: et mittens occidit omnes pueros, qui erant in Bethleem, et in omnibus finibus ejus, a bimatu et infra, secundum tempus quod exquisierat a Magis. Tunc adimpletum est quod dictum est per Jeremiam prophetam dicentem: Vox in Rama audita est, ploratus et ululatus multus, Rachel plorans filios suos, et noluit consolari quia non sunt. Defuncto autem Herode, ecce apparuit angelus Domini in somnis Joseph in Aegypto, dicens: Surge et accipe puerum, et matrem ejus, et vade in terram Israel; defuncti sunt enim qui quaerebant animam pueri. Qui surgens accepit puerum et matrem ejus, et venit in terram Israel. Audiens autem quod Archelaus regnaret in Judaea pro Herode patre suo, timuit illo ire. Et admonitus in somnis, secessit in partes Galilaeae: et veniens habitavit in civitate quae vocatur Nazareth, ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per Prophetas, Quoniam Nazaraeus vocabitur (Matth. II, 13-23). Puer autem crescebat et confortabatur plenus sapientia, et gratia Dei erat in illo. Et ibant parentes ejus per omnes annos in Jerusalem in die solemni Paschae. Et cum factus esset annorum duodecim, ascendentibus illis in Jerosolymam secundum consuetudinem diei festi, consummatisque diebus cum redirent, remansit puer Jesus in Jerusalem, et non cognoverunt parentes ejus. Existimantes autem illum esse in comitatu, venerunt iter diei, et requirebant eum inter cognatos et notos. Et non invenientes, regressi sunt in Jerusalem requirentes eum. Et factum est post triduum invenerunt illum in templo sedentem in medio doctorum, audientem illos et interrogantem eos. Stupebant autem omnes qui audiebant eum, super prudentia et responsis ejus. Et videntes admirati sunt. Et dixit mater ejus ad illum: Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic? Ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes quaerebamus te. Et ait ad illos: Quid est quod me quaerebatis? Nesciebatis quia in his quae Patris mei sunt, oportet me esse? Et ipsi non intellexerunt verbum quod locutus est ad illos. Et descendit cum eis, et venit Nazareth, et erat subditus illis. Et mater ejus conservabat omnia verba haec in corde suo . Et Jesus proficiebat sapientia, et aetate, et gratia apud Deum et homines (Luc. II, 40-52).